Prospects and Challenges for Indigenous African Language Media in the Digital Age

Abstract

Despite their commendable success during colonial years, publications using African languages in South Africa have generally experienced a decline. This decline is worrying because during colonial years newspapers such as Koranta ea Becoana (Bechuana Gazette), Imvo Zabantsundu (Native Opinion), and Izwi Labantu (Voice of the People) played a pivotal role as viable platforms for the African communities who had been pushed beyond margins of citizenship. However, the proliferation of digital media platforms has transformed audience habits of obtaining information, providing both opportunities and challenges for media organizations. This chapter presents insights derived from an exploratory study on the prospects and threats presented by the digital age to the newspapers and radios that use African languages in South Africa. The data was collected through a sample consisting of media practitioners from both print and electronic media and African language experts interested in language use in the media and other public discourses.