Post-diaspora journalism: A study of Ethiopian journalists who have returned to their homeland
This paper looks into the situation of diaspora journalists who have returned to their homeland and probes their contribution and impact on local media and journalism after re-entry. The case is Ethiopia, which has been renowned for sparking off one of the largest constituencies of journalists abroad as a result of political restrictions and ethnic conflict in the homeland. Ethiopian journalist communities in exile have been particularly vital in the US, but have also had a strong foothold in Western Europe from where they have operated vibrant media undertakings aimed at fellow citizens both abroad and in the homeland. However, after 2018, with the appearance of a more liberally-minded prime minister in Ethiopia, many diaspora journalists chose to return. This study is based on in-depth interviews with a number of the returnees. It finds that they retain a strong journalist identity upon return, heading some of the most vital channels in the local media market. However, the study also finds that the former diaspora journalists are in risk of protracting conflict narratives and are seen as provoking division in the local journalist community.
Publisert i ICA 71st annual conference, 2021
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