*The Problem with Unnecessary Titles in Local Media Reporting

There are many quirks in local media that I can usually tolerate, but one recurring practice makes me uneasy: the excessive and often unnecessary use of personal or professional titles in news reports.

Take, for example, Mr. Bekele. He may be a civil engineer by training but currently serves as a CEO of a company. Yet, the media repeatedly refers to him as Engineer Bekele—"Engineer Bekele said this and that..." This is superfluous. What matters to most readers is that he is the CEO, an authoritative figure in the context of the report. His educational background, unless directly relevant, is secondary at best.

Firstly, his current role as CEO is far more pertinent to the issue being discussed than his academic or professional training. Secondly, "Engineer" is not a formal title like Dr., Prof., Mr., or Rev. (A discussion I’ll save for another piece.) If the aim of the news is to convey what the company thinks or what its leader has said, why distract us with irrelevant or redundant titles?

In fact, using such titles can sometimes be misleading or inappropriate. Many countries regulate title usage—requiring official certification, like RN (Registered Nurse), or restricting professional titles to those actively practicing in that field.

Now, consider the following common examples from our local mainstream media:

  • "Graphic Designer Eshete said..."
  • "Farmer Gebre accepted..."
  • "Dr. Engineer Semunigus affirmed..."
  • "Artist Kebede stated..."
  • "Architect Senedu contemplated..."

What’s next? "Social Media Evangelist Belachew commanded..." or "Captain of Buzz Seble said..."?

Well, I don't want to argue with some Gen Z who would like to call themselves like 'Tiktoker X or Y' if that is what they'd love to be called.

While I respect people’s preferences for how they are addressed—whether personal or professional—I believe journalistic professionalism calls for a focus on substance over form. The story should center on what was said and why it matters, not on inflating the speaker's title.

We can learn a lot from international journalism in this regard. Consider global figures like Angela Merkel, often described as the most powerful woman in the world and the de facto leader of the EU. She holds a PhD, yet we rarely—if ever—hear her referred to as "Dr. Merkel" in news reporting. The same goes for Chinese President Xi Jinping or Iran's former President Hassan Rouhani—both of whom have doctorates. Their titles are used only when their educational background is central to the story.

In short, I see no compelling reason for local media to overuse professional or educational titles, especially when they add no value to the news being reported. In fact, I’ve grown increasingly intolerant of this practice.

As always, I welcome your thoughts on this topic. Have a great week!

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