Media on the Margins in South Africa
Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (2026), xvi, 331 pp.
Contains many figures, index
ISBN 978-3-032-04027-5 (print); 978-3-032-04028-2 (ebook)
"Community media in South Africa play a crucial role in providing platforms to foster community engagement and address relevant issues. Post-apartheid media reforms established enabling conditions for the sector so marginalised groups could take up a greater role as citizens. Through empirical, analytical and theoretical inquiry, the book examines the state of local and community media in print, broadcast and on online platforms. Leading scholars in the field use a range of methods to address seldom-asked questions about the role of the state, local power dynamics, business strategies, content, and human factors. A picture emerges of a sector that has grown significantly, but which continues to be marked and constrained by wider socio-economic inequality." (Publisher description)
"This book had its origins in a workshop held at the Stellenbosch Insti-tute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in May 2023 to consider the role of community journalism in South Africa, its viability and its contribution to democracy. That meeting was hosted by the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University, with generous support from the Millennium Trust." (Page v)
1 Introduction / Franz Krüger, Sarah H. Chiumbu, and Herman Wasserman
PART I. FOUNDATIONS
2 Beyond ‘Local’, ‘Alternative’ and ‘Community’: Conceptual Considerations About Media on the Margins / Franz Krüger, Sarah H. Chiumbu, and Herman Wasserman, 13
3 Media on the Margins: A Survey of the South African Landscape / Franz Krüger, 43
4 ‘Matrix’, ‘Nexus’ and ‘Ecosystem’: Navigating the Place and Role of a Community News Organisation in Civic Communication / Rod Amner and Aphiwe Ngowapi, 71
PART II. POLICIES, MONEY AND POWER
5 Talking Directly to Citizens: The Role of the South African State in Building Local and Community Media / Franz Krüger and Michael Moss, 99
6 Hand to Mouth: Business Models in Local and Community Media / Franz Krüger, 123
7 South African Community TV: Perseverance in the Face of Uncertain Policy, Regulatory and Operational Conditions / Chris Armstrong, 149
PART III. CONTENT
8 Local Content on Community Radio in South Africa: Principle and Policy Versus Audience Preferences, Resources and Feasibility / Enock Sithole, 177
9 Promoting Local Voices: A Content Analysis of Print Community Newspapers in South Africa / Nicola Davies-Laubscher and Tanja Bosch, 201
PART IV. PEOPLE
10 The Human Factor: Vision, Mission and Motivation in Community Media Leadership / Kate Skinner and Kathleen Magrobi, 227
11 AmaVolontiya—Between the Search for Opportunity and Planting the Seeds of a Solidarity Economy / Shepi Mati, 247
PART V. NEW CHALLENGES
12 Digital Technologies and Community Radio in South Africa: Critical Perspectives on Access, Participation, and Sustainability / Sarah H. Chiumbu, 273
13 Navigating Disinformation: How South African Community Journalists Identify, Verify, and Respond to False Information in their Reporting / Herman Wasserman and Meli M. Ncube, 301
PART I. FOUNDATIONS
2 Beyond ‘Local’, ‘Alternative’ and ‘Community’: Conceptual Considerations About Media on the Margins / Franz Krüger, Sarah H. Chiumbu, and Herman Wasserman, 13
3 Media on the Margins: A Survey of the South African Landscape / Franz Krüger, 43
4 ‘Matrix’, ‘Nexus’ and ‘Ecosystem’: Navigating the Place and Role of a Community News Organisation in Civic Communication / Rod Amner and Aphiwe Ngowapi, 71
PART II. POLICIES, MONEY AND POWER
5 Talking Directly to Citizens: The Role of the South African State in Building Local and Community Media / Franz Krüger and Michael Moss, 99
6 Hand to Mouth: Business Models in Local and Community Media / Franz Krüger, 123
7 South African Community TV: Perseverance in the Face of Uncertain Policy, Regulatory and Operational Conditions / Chris Armstrong, 149
PART III. CONTENT
8 Local Content on Community Radio in South Africa: Principle and Policy Versus Audience Preferences, Resources and Feasibility / Enock Sithole, 177
9 Promoting Local Voices: A Content Analysis of Print Community Newspapers in South Africa / Nicola Davies-Laubscher and Tanja Bosch, 201
PART IV. PEOPLE
10 The Human Factor: Vision, Mission and Motivation in Community Media Leadership / Kate Skinner and Kathleen Magrobi, 227
11 AmaVolontiya—Between the Search for Opportunity and Planting the Seeds of a Solidarity Economy / Shepi Mati, 247
PART V. NEW CHALLENGES
12 Digital Technologies and Community Radio in South Africa: Critical Perspectives on Access, Participation, and Sustainability / Sarah H. Chiumbu, 273
13 Navigating Disinformation: How South African Community Journalists Identify, Verify, and Respond to False Information in their Reporting / Herman Wasserman and Meli M. Ncube, 301
