This is a rich and timely book on the continued importance of radio broadcasting in contemporary South Africa. Chiumbu and Motsaathebe draw links between a variety of radio stations in contemporary South Africa, demonstrating how the medium continues to inform public life and citizenship. The specific chapters offer exciting discursive material on the vast majority of radio broadcasting in South Africa, but also significantly, map out how these can be thought of collectively under the banner of post-apartheid democratic ideals. A highly recommended reading for anyone interested in understanding radio and its influences both in South Africa and on the continent.
Dina Ligaga, Wits University, Media Studies
This is a provocative and rich collection of essays on radio in South Africa, and why it matters. Insights, astute overviews and in-depth accounts show how radio creates citizen publics and audiences in its democratized spaces. It is an upbeat and largely optimistic collection that forces the reader to take on the busy-ness of radio in the countryThrough the pages of this timely book, even more areas of research and debate on radio will open up for the students of media in South Africas vibrant, plural democracy.
Liz Gunner, Visiting Research Professor, LanCSAL, U of Johannesburg
Radio, Public Life and Citizen Deliberation in South Africa
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 PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Johannesburg and Editor-In-Chief of Communicare -- Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa. 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.
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Radio, Public Life and Citizen Deliberation in South Africa
Edited by Sarah Chiumbu and Gilbert Motsaathebe
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2021 selection and editorial matter, Sarah Chiumbu and Gilbert Motsaathebe; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Sarah Chiumbu and Gilbert Motsaathebe to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Chiumbu, Sarah, editor. | Motsaathebe, Gilbert, editor.
Title: Radio, public life and citizen deliberation in South Africa / edited by Sarah Chiumbu and Gilbert Motsaathebe. Other titles: Routledge contemporary South Africa.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2021. | Series: Routledge contemporary South Africa | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020052377 (print) | LCCN 2020052378 (ebook) | ISBN 9780367436339 (hardback) | ISBN 9781003027744 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Radio broadcastingSocial aspectsSouth Africa. | Radio broadcastingPolitical aspectsSouth Africa. | Radio audiencesSouth Africa. Classification: LCC HE8699.S6 R334 2021 (print) | LCC HE8699.S6 (ebook) | DDC 302.23440968dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020052377
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020052378
ISBN: 978-0-367-43633-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-76646-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-02774-4 (ebk)
Moses Asak is a communication researcher and lecturer. His research interests include digital media and communication, broadcasting and change/integrated communications. He has recently concluded a PhD in digital communications at the North-West University and he is affiliated to the Indigenous Language Media in Africa Research Entity at the same university. Email address: mosyxasak@gmail.com.
