The Citizen in Communication: Re-visiting Traditional, New and Community Media Practices in South Africa

The Citizen in Communication is a compilation of material from academics with an interest in the South African media and the changes that are currently impacting on the public's ability to engage with it.

The book addresses two segments of the communication landscape in South Africa. First, it introduces notions and practices of citizen journalism in the growing trend of civilians providing media footage, blogging, and short messaging service (SMS) commentary. Second, it looks at the prevalence and effectiveness of community media, as well as the challenges such media face on a day-to-day basis. In this way, the text seeks to explore the scope and effectiveness of two alternative forms of communication that, in theory, are designed to allow for the voiceless citizenry to express their opinions and experiences.

To enhance active learning practices, each chapter starts with key terms and concepts. South African examples are provided to show relevance and the applicability of theoretical frameworks. To assist with the consolidation process, each chapter ends with topics/questions for discussion and suggested further reading.

The text is designed for third- and fourth-year students studying communication, media studies, and journalism. However, the publishers also state that the book offers essential reading for anyone with an interest in the relationship between the members of a society and the media that report on it.

The contents include the following:
Section 1: New Media and Citizen Journalism1. New‚ technologies and journalism practice in Africa: towards a critical sociological approach (Hayes Mawindi Mabweazara) 2. Blogging and citizen journalism (Megan Knight) 3. We're all storytellers: citizen journalism in the age of digital pavement radio (Dumisani Moyo) 4. Cellphilms, mobile platforms and prodsumers: hyper-individuality and film (Jonathan Dockney, Keyan G Tomaselli & Thomas Bongani Hart) 5. Traditions, conventions and ethics: online dilemmas in South African journalism (Nicola Jones & Sandra Pitcher)
Section 2: Community Media in South Africa6. Media, alternativism and power: the political economy of community media in South Africa (Sarah Chiumbu) 7. An overview of community radio fifteen years into democracy (Tanja Bosch) 8. The ethnic imperative: community radio as dialogic and participatory and the case study of XK FM (Brilliant Mhlanga) 9. Community radio in KwaZulu-Natal: an idealised public sphere (Anusharani Govender) 10. Building sustainable community television in South Africa (Martina Della Togna & Gerda Dullaart) 11. (Re)defining community newspapers (Thalyta Swanepoel & Elanie Steyn)

For more information, contact: Professor Nathalie Hyde-Clarke University of Johannesburgnhyde-clarke@uj.ac.zaJuta Academic Publisherscserv@juta.co.za