University of Gondar

College of Social Sciences and Humanity

Department Journalism and Communication
MA program in Journalism

An individual assignment for the partial fulfillment of the course

Broadcast Workshop
Course Code: JOUR/611/
By: Atnasya Yemam Abarie
Submitted to: instructor Asmamaw Addis

Date: 25th Dec, 2023

Gondar, Ethiopia
Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................3
Background of EBS TV from their official website................................................................................4
I. Analysis on Helen talk show.............................................................................................................4
Something about the program Helen show..........................................................................................5
A place where the program performed/setting................................................................................5
Forms of talk......................................................................................................................................5
Purpose full talk rather spontaneous...............................................................................................5
Goal oriented......................................................................................................................................5
Particular talk related restrictions...................................................................................................5
There is Both Institutional and non-institutional roles...................................................................6
Unequal relation between the gust and Helen.................................................................................6
The show audience.............................................................................................................................6
Hierarchical role distribution...........................................................................................................6
talk framing pattern..........................................................................................................................7
Particular role related to opening and closing the program...........................................................7
Monitored speaker selection.............................................................................................................7
Explicit meta linguistic pattern.........................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................8
II. Analysis on seifu talk show...........................................................................................................8
Something about the program seifu show............................................................................................8
The area where the program performed/setting.............................................................................8
Forms of talk......................................................................................................................................8
spontaneous talk/ less topic centered................................................................................................9
Goal oriented......................................................................................................................................9
No Particular talk related restrictions.............................................................................................9
There is Both Institutional non-institutional roles..........................................................................9
equal relation between the gust and hos/seifu..................................................................................9
The show audience...........................................................................................................................10
Non-Hierarchical role distribution.................................................................................................10
Talk framing pattern.......................................................................................................................10
a role related to opening and closing the program........................................................................10
No Monitored speaker selection.....................................................................................................10
No Explicit meta linguistic pattern.........................................................................................................10
As strength...............................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................11
Introduction
Before analyzing these two TV talk shows named by Helen show and Seifu show on ebs, it’s
better to know about some concepts about talk show. Talk show is a radio or television program
in which usually well-known persons engage in discussions or are interviewed based on a
conversation manner.

Talk shows involve a host responsible for furthering the agenda of the show by mediating,
investigating and directing the conversation to ensure the purpose is fulfilled. The purpose of talk
shows is to either address or bring awareness to conflicts, to provide information, or to entertain.
On the other hand, People even feel a special attachment to their favorite talk show hosts and talk
about them as if they know them. Off Corse, the nature of talk show is different and it depends
on the characteristics of each media houses. But generally, talk show has two features those are
conversational and institutional features.so, in the following analysis I will discussed about the
feature of the above two TV talk shows which are performed on ebs TV.
Background of EBS TV from their official website

Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS TV) is an Ethiopian free to air television network.
Launched in 2008, the network is based in Ethiopia with correspondents both in United States at
its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. EBS TV broadcasts programs in mostly
Amharic. EBS is a privately held media company in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA to provide a
niche transmission programming that targets the booming Ethiopian market globally. Their aim
is to promote Ethiopian and other African countries' values, cultures and traditions on a global
scale.

Separate entities, EBS Television Ethiopia Plc. and EBS Television Global, in order to get the
local broadcasting permit. As of April 2018 EBS, is prepared a live transmission studio for the
news and sports programs at its current headquarters located on Bawa Building, around Unity
University in Gerji. In 2018, EBS TV was able to acquire a local broadcasting license.

There are three EBS TV channels; the first is EBS HD is the main channel that broadcasts news,
sports, entertainment, economy and culture content. Talk shows are programmed on this channel.
The second one is EBS Cinema from the name indicates this channel focuses on only national
films, dramas and sitcoms like ‘’Besintu’’. The third is EBS Musika ebs musika or music
broadcasts only music content like pop, rap, and classical music.

In general, EBS TV focuses various entertainments related subjects such as talk shows, game
shows, movies, dramas and others. This tv is known by the production of the local late-night talk
show, one is Seifu on EBS, hosted by Seifu Fantahun.
 I. Analysis on Helen talk show

Something about the program Helen show

Helen show is about celebrating and inspiring Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans and Africans by
facilitating conversations, with a mix of deeply personal and in-depth discussion to inform,
inspire, empower and entertain her viewers to transform and improve their lives. With wit and
compassion, Helen engages her guests to share their thoughts and expertise discussing every day
issues ranging from business, family, career, life style and health geared specifically to Ethiopian
and Africans in the continent and Diaspora. The air time is Tuesday at 9pm.

A place where the program performed/setting

When we see this show, most of the episodes were programed depend on the ideas or frames of
the program. Like, if the guest is a chef Helen goes to restaurants, café, hotels and also if her
program is related to life style she goes to beauty houses, if the guests are experts she invites in
studio. Off Corse most of the time Helen invites guests in to the studio. From these we can say
that the show uses institutional settings.

Forms of talk
The issue of the Helen show was circulated on non-homogeneous form of talk, the reason is
Helen engages her guests to share their thoughts and expertise discussing every day issues
ranging from business, family, career, life style and health rather than homogeneous. And also,
the issues are different from episode to episode weekly.

Purpose full talk rather spontaneous

The show is more topic centered and highly goal oriented. Because she uses structured questions,
and contents. The program has binging ending and also predicting rather naturally occurrences.
And it creates higher topic control because Helen as well as the guest was focused only on that
issue.

Goal oriented
The show has its own goal and that goal is Communicative interactional and institutional goals.
At Helen show there is a deliberative use of performative utterances for her shows goal.
Particular talk related restrictions
There is a time limitation, speaker selection and turn taking design. That means most of the time
Helen were the interviewer as a host by asking structured questions and the guests were
answered the question rather flexible turn taking. On the other expression, she uses a monitored
role switching, the tempo is controlled by Helen. On the other hand, there is time restriction
because the show begins from air time is Tuesday at 9pm up to 10pm. So, it takes relatively one
hour.

There is Both Institutional and non-institutional roles

We can see the program Helen show as I told you from the above, the guests are coming from
different dimensions like, they are not only experts, not only panelists, not only parents or family
rather she invites a mix of deeply personal and in-depth discussion to inform, inspire, empower
and entertain her viewers to transform and improve their lives.

Unequal relation between the gust and Helen

Relatively Unequal participant status, Helen allowed her guests in order to speak fully. But her
role is mostly asking the guest. So, there is Unequal right of speaking.

The show audience

Helens show mostly hasn’t on looking audience but there is one example a program when on
looking audience where present that was the topic was framed by ‘’breast cancer awareness with
survivors’’. But sometimes she invites large number of guests depending on the issue. Unless
and other ways we can say the show has overhearing audience and also there is a multiple
audience as addressee.

In addition to this Helen show uses both interlocutor-oriented talk and a multiple audience-
oriented questions/talks or the program begins from audience feedback. So, the show has invited
as audience, a man who is live in any status or both the ordinaries and literates. And it has a
strong message. Because mostly the show asks the gust which are Evaluative questions.
Hierarchical role distribution
From these according to my understanding, we can see hierarchies in to two ways;

the hierarchy between the host/ Helen and the gust, on the other hand, there is the hierarchy
between the host and production crew or the media house which is the program relay or perform.

Within the show they are the producers, directors, editors, camera man etc. there are called
production crews and they have different roles between them hierarchically.

The show was characterized by asymmetrical power relations with in the host and the guest, that
means most of the time guests were more power full than Helen in order to explain the questions
which are raised from Helen. But during this time the guest has no the right to ask a question to
Helen. So, during this time it becomes a power shift.

talk framing pattern

the show has a particular talk framing pattern. Helen opens the show by create awareness about
the program. She talks about pre-defined content, pre identified and restricted topics. So, the
show has strong topic control. Because it creates strong arguments by asking structured
questions. Some times in order to create some funs with her guests Helen were talk in a familiar
manner.

Particular role related to opening and closing the program

The opening and closing of the show were performed by Helen rather the guest who invites the
program. During this time Helen opens the program by framing the topic and then she introduces
the guests who were invited for that particular topic. In this case sometimes there is Formal and
semi informal introductions of the participants by Helen.

Monitored speaker selection

Most of the time in this show there is Monitored speaker selection and turn assignments rather
than un planned intervention. As l said you from the above the Helen programs are performed in
pre designed and structured manner.

Explicit meta linguistic pattern

Helen raises formal languages; depend on the situation Helen uses the two formal language those
are Amharic and English. Off course, Helen lives in America and also her show was inviting the
guests are Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans and Africans. we can understand it easily from the
tone of the story during the show.
most of the time She calls the guest based on their title or profession in formal way. But
sometimes depend on the situation and the nature of her guest and also her program she was act
friendly. On the other hand, during the show there is a very short break announcement but not
commercial.

Conclusion
To conclude I argued that Helen show were characterized by as institutional feature of the talk
show, because most of helen show issues are more serious rather entertainments. On the other
side with in my analysis I gate only one thing which is take the two features of talk show that is
the role of the show, is Both Institutional and non-institutional roles.

II. Analysis on seifu talk show

Something about the program seifu show
When we see Seifu show is an Ethiopian late-night talk show airing each Sunday at 9; 00p.m.
this show that majorly engaged a program which is directly related with art in general, and
Specifically, film and music industry. Seifu’s guest come from a wide range of cultural sources,
and include actors, musicians, authors, athletes and sometimes political figures. We should be
considered that; even if he focused on the art industry but seifu circulates on different issues with
in one program/ episode. Like issues related with current news stories, which are combined by
pictures and videos found on social media. In addition to this beyond the guests or celebrities,
seifu has different righteousness deeds.

The area where the program performed/setting

seifu show has Commonly two tv studios which are found in Ethiopia and USA. But also, he
performed his show from guests private setting, and at this time the audience should see pre
filmed scenes. We can take one episode as an example that is; seifu has a conversation within a
music combiner, kirubel and singer liuel sisay, during this program seifu goes to the singer’s
house and perform the show, and the time was 7 o’clock at night. To this extent seifu has a
freedom to perform his program.

Forms of talk
The issue of the seifu show was circulated on homogeneous form of talk, the reason is seifu
was always engages on inviting guests which can share their expertise to the audience or to
promote current happenings like; if there is a new movie, music album, etc. beyond the fun part
of the program. And also, programs in this show has similar formats from episode to episode but
guests were change weekly.

spontaneous talk/ less topic centered

The show is less topic centered. Because most of the time, based on the idea that the guest raised,
seifu suddenly adds questions related to it. the topic becomes less topic centered or not
structured, from these both the host/ seifu and the guest have a freedom to talk about anything
about their issue.

Goal oriented
The show has its own goal and that goal is Communicative, interactional goals and address
events which are extremely relating with entertainment, by inviting celebrities, if there is a new
movie, music etc. on the other hand seifu show has a goal to help peoples who are in serious
health problem, by presenting them to the public. At this show there is no a deliberative use of
performativity utterances for the show goal.

No Particular talk related restrictions

As I toald you from the above the show topic has less topic centered or not structured, from
these both seifu and the guest has talk about the issue freely.so, There is flexible turn-taking,
topic and subtopic shifts depend on the situation there are some suddenly questions for the guest
from seifu, at the same time the guest also can take the host’s role. The show is airing at night
10; 00p.m. it has one hour and a half long show. So, there is a time limitation rather issues.

There is Both Institutional non-institutional roles

Off Corse most of the time seifu invite as a guest are celebrities but also guests are coming from
different dimensions like, they are not only experts, not only political figures, not only parents or
family, not only athletes. From these we should to have understand the role of the show is not
only entertainment.
equal relation between the gust and hos/seifu
in this show there is Relatively equal participant status, there is no any restriction between the
guest and the host on that issue. Seifu is at the same time the guest, because his guest also can
take the host’s role by raised different questions to seifu. They have equal right of speaking.

The show audience

In Seifu show there are two types of audience these are on looking audience and also
overhearing multiple audience, and interlocutor as addressee and addresser.

In addition to this seifu show uses both interlocutor-oriented talk and a multiple audience-
oriented questions/talks or the program begins from audience feedback. So, the show has invited
ordinary communities to give issues for the seifu show, like; they can aside the guest who should
be invite or which can be programed on the show.

Non-Hierarchical role distribution

There is no any hierarchy between the host/ and the gust, because they have equal relations, and
also equal right of talk. but it may a hierarchy between the host and production crew or the
media house. In short, we can say they have symmetrical power relations, it becomes a power
shift.

Talk framing pattern

the show has a r talk framing pattern but not particular. seifu opens the show by create awareness
about programs which are performed at that episode; first he starts with a monologue drawing
from current news stories and issue, and then he introduces the guests which are invited.on the
other hand the show has comedy bites like seifu usually interacts with the audience through
game or takes part in comedy sketches involving a guest on the show.

a role related to opening and closing the program

The opening and closing of the show were mostly performed by seifu but not in a formal or
structured way and sometimes the guest also introduce himself freely. Depend on the situation
sometimes there is Formal and semi informal introductions of the participants by the host.

No Monitored speaker selection

On this show they are un planned intervention. As l said you from the above their may be a
suddenly issues to be involved, and it raised from both of them/ the host and guest.
No Explicit meta linguistic pattern
In seifu show there is a common language that is Amharic but the question is how seifu uses this
language? The answer is most of the time in this show both the host and guests use in informal
way or they talk in a familiarly and friendl. On the other hand, sometimes, he was formal depend
on the issue. There is also a negotiated turn taking slots next speaker selection and topic agenda.
Seifu has commercial a break announcement., and it takes a long time of the program.

As strength
Lastly, I would like to say about an encouraging part of seifu show. he was using the medias
apart from entertaining and educating the audience, peoples which are live in our country and
which are suffering from serious health case, he brings to the public they come to be helped.

Conclusion
In general, seifu show were characterized by as conversational form of talk show. Because his
program involves relatively has the entertainment genre/ nature. Off Corse the role and goal of
the show has take both the conversational and institutional, but the way he performs is has totally
conversational feature of talk show.