Abstract:
Different media have different approaches to influence their respective audiences. Even though
radio and TV are electronic/broadcast mediums and television is the natural extension of radio
with visuals, they have distinctive features on their news stories. In television, news content,
structure, images, and presentation style all influence the audience‟s perceptions of authenticity
and accuracy. Similarly, in radio news script, content structure, tone of voice, presentation style
and simplicity have the influence. People form perceptions immediately based on what they see
or hear. However, research has not been done concerning the distinctiveness of radio and TV
news storytelling practices in FBC and other media organizations. In light of this fact, this
exploratory study attempted to examine the distinctive features of radio and TV mediums as per
their difference in a storytelling style. The study also tried to find out how the media house FBC
runs both mediums as competitive news sources and the influence of radio news production on
television or vice versa. The study used a qualitative research method, and the data were
collected using in-depth interviews with seven journalists working in the newsroom, including
the managers of both mediums. Apart from this, contents that were aired on Fana radio and TV
Amharic news show called 90 dekika, 120 dekika, and Fana 90 in two successive months (a total
of 20 same news stories) were thoroughly analyzed. The outcome of this research indicates that
although the media house has been running TV broadcasting in a separate department from the
radio for the past five years, the level of TV news storytelling at FBC is still at its infant stage
being influenced by the practice of the former, i.e., the radio. This study reveals that TV news has
limitations in terms of balancing script structure and depth with the image used. The study also
reveals that even though the channels are separated, they share content like breaking news,
press releases, urgencies, and important news on both mediums without formatting the contents
as per the distinct nature of each medium. The study also finds out challenges journalists face, of
which that there is no writing and editing manual for both mediums especially for TV, and
working traditionally rather than following structured and well-organized news production
routines are the main ones. In line with this, it was recommended that technical pieces of
training should be provided to the media practitioners to fill their gap to help them recognize the
distinctive nature of TV and radio news stories and present them accordingly.
