Kibrom Berhane Gessesse

Kibrom Berhane Gessesse is an Ethiopian academic with 12+ years of experience as a senior lecturer in Journalism and Communication at Mekelle University. My studies on local broadcast media in Tigray played significant roles in transforming their journalistic practices. Additionally, I supervised a curriculum and oversaw the establishment of a BA program in PR and Advertising, subsequently serving as the inaugural head of the department. I have been a regular contributor to Ethiopia’s prominent English-language newspaper, The Reporter, focusing on topics such as social media usage in Ethiopia and other current affairs. With a diverse academic background spanning five disciplines, I have honed analytical thinking and qualitative research skills across subjects. My doctoral studies at ISGP seek to delve into the content produced by various actors, including military, academic, and political elites, as well as other social media participants. Its primary objective is to examine the significant influence of key social media actors on offline political discourse during the turbulent socio-political environment in Ethiopia. The research aims to unravel the intricate interplay between the online and offline political spheres within such a volatile setting. Additionally, the study will underscore the role of technology companies in fuelling ethnic-based violence, with their platforms serving as instruments for propagating hate speech and propaganda, not only in Ethiopia but also across Africa. It will navigate through the click-based content moderation systems and policies of the tech companies (in this case, X) by using Ethiopia's Tigray war as an example.