An Exploratory Study on the Distinctive Features of Radio And Television News Storytelling: Fan Broadcasting Corporate In Focus

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.