Rahel Zewdu

Women's Status in Fm Radio Stations: in Addis Ababa Rahel Zewdu

This study aims at examining representation, experience, practice, role and challenges of women journalists who work in FM radio stations in Addis Ababa using Feminist Communication Theories; Critical Mass, Glass Ceiling and Standpoint theory. Analysis of data showed that there are smaller numbers of women journalists than men journalists in the six stations. Additionally, private stations have better representation of women journalists than government stations. The research also finds out that fewer women reached senior management positions. The findings also suggest that young and well-educated women dominated the stations and also majority of women journalists have less than five years of professional experience. Women journalists widely assumed that they have a different perspective than men journalists in terms of selecting newsworthy items and story sources, reporting styles and changing the negative portrayal of women in the media. Women journalists claim that they faced difficulties in relation to their gender, as many accepted them first as women then as professionals.