Books

Glenda Daniels, Wits University Press (2012) 

Fight for Democracy is a penetrating and critical scrutiny of the ANC's treatment of the print media since the inception of democracy in 1994. In this book, Glenda Daniels does not hide behind a veil of detachment, but instead makes a passionate argument for the view that newspapers and journalists play a significant role in the deepening of democratic principles. Daniels' study goes to the heart of current debates and asks why the ANC, given its stated commitment to the democratic objectives of the Constitution, is so ambivalent about the freedom of the media. What would be the consequences of a revised media policy on democracy in South Africa, and at what cost to freedom of expression? Daniels examines the pattern of paranoia that has crept into public discourse about the media and the ANC, and the conflictual relationship between the two. She argues that the ANC's understanding of democracy, transformation and development entails (amongst other things) the rallying of the nation behind its leadership as the premier liberation movement and democratically elected representative of the majority while morally coercing black journalists and professionals into loyalty. Daniels challenges the dominant ANC view that journalists are against transformation and that they take instruction from the owners of the media houses; in short that they are 'enemies of the people'. Fight for Democracy is a timely publication in the context of the impending clampdown on media freedom and the twin threats of the Protection of State Information Bill (Secrecy Bill) and the Media Appeals Tribunal, both of which signify closures in South Africa's democracy. Written in a polemical style, this is a work of activism that will be essential reading for the informed public as well as those working in Journalism and Media Studies. It should interest all democrats, members of political organisations as well as academics and Right2Know activists, locally and internationally.

The "Glass Ceilings: Women in South African media houses 2018" book revealed that while progress had been made in the gender and race composition of media since the first study 12 years prior, women, particularly black women, were still underrepresented in decision-making roles, a widening gender pay gap existed, and patriarchal norms contributed to issues like sexism and cyber misogyny. 

Step into the vibrant world of African popular culture with this trailblazing volume by K. Aiseng, I. Fadipe, and P. Mpofu (2024, Lexington Books). This book critically examines the political, economic, and historical forces that shape African media industries, uncovering the complex interplay between cultural production, power, and global visibility. Through interdisciplinary analysis and case studies across music, television, film, and digital platforms, the authors offer a compelling framework for understanding Africa’s cultural influence both within the continent and on the global stage. Engaging and deeply analytical, this book is an essential resource for scholars, students, and practitioners in African studies, media and communication, cultural policy, and the political economy of media. It provides a rich, decolonial perspective on how African popular culture continues to negotiate identity, resistance, and innovation in a rapidly changing world.

This book analyses the crisis of journalism in contemporary South Africa at a period when the media and their role are frequently at the centre of public debate. The transition to digital news has been messy and unpredictable. 

This book offers a groundbreaking exploration of how language operates as both a tool and a terrain in the construction of cultural identity and meaning in South African media. Through richly detailed case studies, the book delves into the sociolinguistic dynamics that shape television content, unpacking how language ideologies—both visible and subtle—influence representation, access, and audience engagement. Bridging media studies, sociolinguistics, and cultural studies, Aiseng’s work interrogates the intersections of language, power, and identity in a multilingual society still grappling with the legacies of colonialism and apartheid. This timely and insightful contribution is indispensable for scholars, students, and readers interested in African media, linguistic justice, and the evolving narratives of South African popular culture.

This edited collection examines women journalists’ experiences and obstacles in South Africa’s (SA) democracy. They exercise power, and add a vital diversity, but they are routinely harassed in the online social media space of big tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook by populist and corrupt politicians and their supporters. Using SA as the case study, this book examines attempts to curb women journalists’ freedom combining theory and  first-hand accounts. The target audience for the book includes scholars of political philosophy, gender, media, communications, NGOs, media freedom activists and journalists.

Delve into the dynamic interplay of gender, politics, and digital culture in Social Media and Gender in Africa by S. Mpofu and K. Aiseng (2024, Lexington Books). This pioneering work investigates how social media platforms are reshaping gender relations, amplifying political voices, and redefining the boundaries of activism and resistance across African societies. Through critical analysis of case studies and online discourse, the authors reveal how digital spaces serve as contested arenas where gendered identities are performed, challenged, and politicized in everyday life.

This book is an essential resource for students, scholars, and practitioners interested in gender studies, digital sociology, African media, and contemporary social movements.

In this timely and insightful volume, Public Health Communication in Minority and Indigenous Communities (Aiseng & Fadipe, 2024, IGI Global), the authors confront the critical challenges that hinder effective health messaging in historically marginalized populations.

Drawing on interdisciplinary research and real-world case studies, the book exposes the structural, cultural, and linguistic barriers that compromise public health outcomes in minority and indigenous contexts. Aiseng and Fadipe not only diagnose the issues but also provide actionable frameworks and strategies for designing inclusive, community-driven communication approaches. Essential reading for public health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and advocates, this work equips readers with the tools to foster more equitable and responsive health systems in diverse societies.

Scheduled for release by Bloomsbury Academic in 2025, this groundbreaking book by S. Mpofu and K. Aiseng critically examines how African social media platforms construct, commodify, and contest gender and sexuality. With a focus on digital representation and the politics of visibility, the authors unpack the subtle and overt ways in which online spaces become sites of both empowerment and exploitation. Blending theoretical insight with rich empirical analysis, this work offers fresh perspectives on the intersections of gender, identity, and power within African digital ecosystems.

A vital contribution to the fields of media studies, gender studies, and digital cultures in the Global South, it is an indispensable resource for scholars, researchers, and students engaging with contemporary African society through a critical lens.

This book draws insights from scholars across the African continent by unravelling the complementary nature of scholarship between the two fields, through the lens of prevailing governance and sustainability challenges facing African countries, today. This edited volume covers issues that have adversely affected the achievement of goals related to humanitarian upliftment, development and social change for all African nations. Consequently, citizen participation, which lies at the heart of these challenges when considering the question of sustainable governance and policy development for social change in an African context is addressed. To this end, a reflection is also made on various case studies that exist where local citizens do not inform sustainable development programmes, while the promotion of bottom-up development and social change is largely replaced by top-down instrumental action approaches and hemispheric communication instead of strategic communication.

Indigenous Language for Development Communication in the Global South brings together voices from the margins in underrepresented regions of the Global South, within the context of scholarship focusing on indigenous languages and development communication. Contributors present cases as a starting point for further research and discussions about indigenous language and development communication in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Scholars of communication, sociology, linguistics, and development studies will find this book of particular interest.

Indigenous Language for Social Change Communication in the Global South brings together voices from the margins to engage in dialogue about common social change issues in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This book argues that resistance and social movements, expressed in music and songs and exchanged via radio, remain fundamental to ensure that the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world progresses despite colonizing pressures. Contributors present cases that explore how indigenous communities use mediums such as the radio to help support their language, identity, and expand their own social change. Highlighting the centrality of music in the development of political discussions and language as a central part of collective identity, contributors analyze how these mediums function as both a vessel and a link for information and cultural cohesion of those engaging in social change. Scholars of communication, sociology, and development studies will find this book of particular interest.