This book explores the convergence of urban radio with digital media technologies in Africa, focusing on how youth are riding on the rapid (though uneven) internet rollout on the continent to participate and drive the production and consumption of urban radio. With thirteen original chapters, the book sheds new light on the changing landscape of radio in a diverse set of African countries, illustrated with rich case studies from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, Nigeria and Kenya. This book covers the following themes: youth agency and cultural power; civic engagement and political participation; youth, identity and belonging; youth cultural expressions as well as the impact of capitalist imperatives on commercial radio programing in Africa. Vibrant and innovative, Converged Radio, Youth and Urbanity in Africa reveals the creation of a new public sphere, through which African youth project their voices and identities, participating in and shaping national discourse.
Author(s): Stanley Tsarwe, Sarah Chiumbu
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 260
City: Cham
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Radio Convergence and Youth: An Overview on African Perspectives
Introduction
The Youth Factor in African Converged Radio
History of Broadcasting in Africa
Mapping Digitisation in Africa
The Structure of This Book
Conclusion
References
Chapter 2: Converged Radio, Youth, and Participatory Politics in Harare, Zimbabwe
Introduction
Brief Description of Power FM, Star FM, and ZiFM Stereo
Theorising Converged Radio and Youth Political Participation in Zimbabwe
Unpacking Converged Radio, Youth, and Participatory Politics
The Intersection of Converged Radio, Youth, and Participatory Politics
Methodology
Findings and Discussion
‘The Gadget Is the Media’: Devices Used to Listen to Radio
‘Agents of Change’: Convergence Radio, Youth, and Participatory Politics
‘It’s Elite-Centric’: Challenges Associated with Convergence Radio and Youth Political Participation
Conclusion and Recommendations
References
Chapter 3: An Alternative Arena for “Communities of Resistance”? Podcasting, Democratic Spaces, and Counterpublics in Zimbabwe
Introduction
Podcasting and Its Democratic Potential
Youth, Social Media and Participatory Politics
Theory
Methodology
Findings
Podcasting as a Counterhegemonic Space
Podcasting as a Tool for Enhancing Youth’s and Women’s Participation
On Technical Issues and Trainings
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: ‘Mobile Radio’ and Youth Identity Formation on the Streets of Harare
Introduction
Mobile Radio, Identity and Self-management
Mobile Radio and the Creation of the ‘Digital Cyborg’
Methods
Findings
Experiencing a ‘New Kind of Radio’: Mobile Radio and Disaggregation of Audiences
Competing Attention: Self-identity Meanings and Identity
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Strategic Diversion and Commercial Exploitation: The Dumbing Down of Converged Youth Radio Programming in Zimbabwe
Introduction
Background and Context: Radio Broadcasting System in Zimbabwe
Theoretical Framework: Radio Broadcasting in the Age of ICTs
Dumping Down of Media Content
Converged Radio
Research Questions
Methodology
Findings
The Nature of Youth Programming of the Converged Radio
Creating an Apolitical Youth Through Dumbed-Down Programming
Youths as a Market and Not Citizens
The Implications of a Dumped-Down Programming on Converged Radio
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Mis(Understanding) Youth Engagement: Role of Commercial Youth Radio in Promoting Political Engagement in South Africa
Introduction
Radio and Youth Engagement: A Review of Related Literature
Conceptualising Youth, Media, and Citizenship
A Note on Methodology
The Personal Is the Political: Radio Personal Conversations as Political Engagement
Creating Organic Conversations on Youth Entertainment Radio
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Radio as Self-expression and the Limits of Public Debate
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Methodological Consideration
Youth Participation in Boresetse and Tsele le Tsele News and Current Affairs
Discussion and Findings
References
Chapter 8: Youth Audiences and Social Media Integration in Community Radio Stations in South Africa: A Case Study of Zibonele FM and Bush Radio
Introduction and Background
A Brief Review of the Literature
Radio Convergence in South Africa
Conceptual Framework of the Study
Method
Findings and Discussion
Social Media and the Reconfigurations of News Production in Community Media Space
Digital Applications and the Reconfigurations of Relations Between Youth Audiences and News Producers
From Passive Recipients to Agenda Setters
Youth Audiences, Verification, Fact-Checking, and Media Accountability
Reading Backwards and Some Contextual Reflections
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Social Media Use and Maturity in a Youth-Orientated Community Radio Station: The Case of Rhodes Music Radio
Introduction
Community Radio
Community Radio and Social Media
Youth and Social Media Usage in the Context of Radio
Models for Assessing Organisational Maturity and Social Media Maturity
Operational Excellence and Organisational Maturity
Organisational Maturity Models Incorporating Social Media
Social Media Maturity Model (SMMM)
Development and Application of an SMMM for Community Radio
Five-Level Scale
Organisational Spheres
Data Collection
Findings: Original Study
Organisation-Wide Spheres: Policy and Monitoring
Departmental-Level Operational Spheres
Human Resources
Programming and Production
Technical
Marketing and Branding
Music
Sales and Advertising
Communication
News
Overall Assessment
Findings: Five Years Later
Progress
Regress
Overall Assessment
Recommendations for Practice and Future Research
Recommendations for Practice
Policy and Strategy
Organisation Capacity and Technical Skills
Integration of Social Media into Activities
Future Research
References
Chapter 10: The Language of Audience Engagement in Converged Radio Through Facebook and Twitter: The Case of NRG Radio and Ghetto Radio in Nairobi, Kenya
Introduction
Radio Convergence and Audience Interaction: A Review of Literature
Theoretical Framework
Data Analysis and Discussion
Collaboration Between Presenters and Radio Audiences
Asserting Audience Power
Social Networking Among Online Radio Participants
Expressing Absolute Listener Loyalty
Inclusivity and Collective Co-creation of Programmes
Promoting Urban Youth Identity and Station Brand
Creating Critical Audiences
Promoting Youth Language Through Creative Styles of Expression in Urban Slang
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Chapter 11: Audience Participation in Information Dissemination for National Renaissance: Nigerian Youths’ Engagement of Radio Contents Via Social Media Platforms
Introduction
Research Question
Literature Review
Radio and Social Media: Tools for Civic Participation
Nigerian Youth’s Use of Social Media for Radio Participation
Theoretical Framework
Media Dependency Theory
Democratic Participant Media Theory
Methodology
Methods and Materials
Findings
Discussion
Radio Virility and Social Media Virality: A Requisite Media Convergence for Better Youth Engagement in Nigeria’s Renaissance
Conclusion
Recommendations for Media Practitioners and Further Research Directions
References
Chapter 12: Campus Radio in the Digital Era: A Case Study of UNESWA FM
Introduction
Background of UNESWA FM
Radio and Information Communication Technologies: Literature Review
Radio and Convergence
Social Determinism
Research Questions
Methodology
Findings and Discussion
Uptake and Use of the New Online and Mobile Digital Media Platforms by Young People in Eswatini
Social Media Platforms as Tools for Democracy and Participation
Combining Digital Platforms with Traditional Methods
Conclusion
References
Websites
Index
