 | Radio, Public Life and Citizen Deliberation in South Africa Subjects: Area Studies; Humanities; Politics & International Relations; Social Sciences; African Studies; Media & Film Studies; Politics & the Media; Sociology & Social Policy; African Culture and Society; African Media; African Politics; Media & Communications; Broadcast Media; Journalism & Professional Media; Political Sociology; This book critically analyses the important role of radio in public life in post-apartheid South Africa. As the most widespread and popular form of communication in the country, radio occupies an essential space in the deliberation and the construction of public opinion in South Africa. From just a few state-controlled stations during the apartheid era, there are now more than 100 radio stations, reaching vast swathes of the population and providing an important space for citizens to air their views and take part in significant socio-economic and political issues of the country. The various contributors to this book demonstrate that whilst print and television media often serve elite interests and audiences, the low cost and flexibility of radio has helped it to create a 'common' space for national dialogue and deliberation. The book also investigates the ways in which digital technologies have enhanced the consumption of radio and produced a sense of imagined community for citizens, including those in marginalised communities and rural areas. This book will be of interest to researchers with an interest in media, politics and culture in South Africa specifically, as well as those with an interest in broadcast media more generally. Sarah Chiumbu is Associate Professor and Head of School in the School of Communication, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research interests include media, democracy and citizenship, digital and alternative media, African political and decolonial thought. Gilbert Motsaathebe is an associate professor of Journalism, Film and Television at the University of Johannesburg. His research interest oscillates on media, gender and representation, television journalism, journalism education and practice, post-apartheid films, African language media, decolonisation and the African Renaissance nexus. |
