Broadcasting Democracy

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Radio and Identity in South Africa The media play a key role in post-apartheid South Africa and is often positioned at the centre of debates around politics, identity and culture. Media, such as radio, are often said to also play a role in deepening democracy while simultaneously holding the power to frame political events, shape public discourse and impact citizens’ perceptions of reality. Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in South Africa provides an exciting look into the diverse world of South African radio, exploring how various radio formats and stations play a role in constructing post-apartheid identities. At the centre of the book is the argument that various types of radio stations represent autonomous systems of cultural activity and are ‘consumed’ as such by listeners. In this sense, it argues that South African radio is ‘broadcasting democracy’. Broadcasting Democracy will be of interest to media scholars and radio listeners alike.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Public service broadcasting – A brief history of Radio in South Africa

Chapter 3 Community Radio: Subaltern counterpublics

Chapter 4 Commercial talk radio and the public sphere

Chapter 5 Commercial music radio and identity: Good Hope FM and Metro FM as case studies

Chapter 6 Radio convergence and online public spheres

Chapter 7 Conclusions – the future of radio in South Africa

References

Index

Tanja Bosch is an Associate Professor of Media Studies and Production at the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town, where she teaches and conducts research in media theory, social media, radio studies and broadcast journalism. She completed an MA in Communication for Development while a Fulbright Scholar at Ohio University, where she also graduated with a PhD in Communication. Her PhD thesis on community radio and identity was awarded the US-based Broadcast Education Association “Best Thesis” award in 2004. Tanja is a former station manager of Bush Radio Community Radio and has worked as a media trainer for various local and international organisations.