Divergence and convergence: The implications of shifting media consumption habits on the field of minority language media studies | Intellect Skip to content
1981
Volume 16, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1757-1898
  • E-ISSN: 1757-1901

Abstract

This commentary assesses what impact the generational divergence of audience preferences alongside the platform convergence of content creators will have for minority language media outlets and researchers working in this subdiscipline. An overview of the history of minority language media studies depicts this in two waves – first with ‘traditional’ media forms, followed by a second wave with the emergence of social media as a mass form of speakers’ consumption and participation habits. The commentary then outlines the stark generational divergence of social media consumption which has bought TikTok and Instagram to the fore at the expense of Facebook and Twitter, followed by demonstrating institutional actors’ adoption of creating short-form audio-visual content directly for such emerging channels. The conclusions suggest a third wave of minority language media literature will face different challenges as a result, potentially leading to a possible switch towards qualitative over quantitative methods due to less publicly accessible data.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/cjcs_00100_1
2024-04-05
2024-04-30
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Amezaga, Josu, Arana, Edorta, Narbaiza, Bea and Azpillaga, Patxi (2013), ‘The public sphere and normalization of minority languages: An analysis of Basque television in light of other experiences in Europe’, Trípodos, 32, pp. 93111.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Belmar, Guillem and Glass, Maggie (2019), ‘Virtual communities as breathing spaces for minority languages: Re-framing minority language use in social media’, Adeptus, 14, pp. 124, https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=897108. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Belmar, Guillem and Heyen, Hauke (2021), ‘Virtual Frisian: A comparison of language use in north and west Frisian virtual communities’, Language Documentation & Conservation, 15, pp. 285315.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bober, Sergiusz and Willis, Craig (2021), ‘The COVID-19 pandemic and minority language media in Europe: The effects of spring 2020 lockdowns’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, pp. 117, https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2021.2005074.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Bober, Sergiusz and Willis, Craig (2023a), ‘The digitalization of minority language newspapers: Between long-term trend and pandemic-induced adaptation’, European Yearbook of Minority Issues, 20:1, pp. 6692, https://doi.org/10.1163/22116117-02001004.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Bober, Sergiusz and Willis, Craig (2023b), ‘The purpose of minority language media and the digital shift: The case of Der Nordschleswiger’, in F. Mpofu and T. Tshabangu (eds), African Language Media, London: Routledge, pp. 98111, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003350194.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Browne, Donald (1996), Electronic Media and Indigenous Peoples: A Voice of Our Own?, Ames, IA: Iowa State Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Cormack, Mike (1998), ‘Minority language media in Western Europe: Preliminary considerations’, European Journal of Communication, 13:1, pp. 3352.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Cormack, Mike (2013), ‘Concluding remarks: Towards and understanding of media impact on minority language use’, in E. H. G. Jones and E. Uribe-Jongbloed (eds), Social Media and Minority Languages: Convergence and the Creative Industries, Bristol, Buffalo, NY and Toronto: Multilingual Matters, pp. 25565.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Cormack, Mike and Hourigan, Niamh (2007), Minority Language Media: Concepts, Critiques and Case Studies, Clevedon, Buffalo, NY and Toronto: Multilingual Matters.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Costecalde, Pierre (2019), ‘Les télévisions celtiques TG4, S4C, BBC Alba, France 3 Bretagne, Brezhoweb: État des lieux et enjeux’, Études irlandaises, 44:2, pp. 5975, https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesirlandaises.8222.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Cunliffe, Daniel (2021), ‘Minority languages in the age of networked individualism: From social networks to digital breathing spaces’, in H. Lewis and W. McLeod (eds), Language Revitalisation and Social Transformation, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 6797, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80189-2.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Díaz-Campo, Jesús and Fernández-Gómez, Erika (2020), ‘Las televisiones autonómicas públicas en Facebook. Análisis de la situación de TV3, Aragón TV, TVG y Canal Sur en 2015’, Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico, 26:2, pp. 50718, https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.67587.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. DIGIDAY (2018), ‘How BBC News has grown its Instagram following by posting less video’, DIGIDAY, 15 March, https://digiday.com/media/bbc-news-grown-instagram-following-posting-less-video/. Accessed 28 May 2023.
  15. Dołowy-Rybińska, Nicole (2014), ‘Upper Sorbs and the use of minority language online: Some advantages for the upper Sorbian language and community’, Slavia-časopis pro slovanskou filologii, 83:2, pp. 12743.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Fadipe, Israel and Salawu, Abiodun (2021), ‘Influence of African indigenous language media in COVID-19 digital health messaging’, Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies, 13:2, pp. 26784, https://doi.org/10.1386/cjcs_00053_1.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Ferré-Pavia, Carme, Zabaleta, Iñaki, Gutiérrez, Arantza, Fernandez-Astobiza, Itxaso and Xamardo, Nikolas (2018), ‘Internet and social media in European minority languages: Analysis of the digitalization process’, International Journal of Communication, 12, pp. 106586, https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/7464. Accessed 7 March 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Gifreu, Josep (2009), ‘The Catalan communicative space: Still a strategic objective’, Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies, 1:1, pp. 8795, https://doi.org/10.1386/cjcs.1.1.87_7.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Ipsos European Public Affairs (2022), News & Media Survey 2022, Brussels: Public Opinion Monitoring Unit, Directorate-General for Communication, European Parliament, https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/api/deliverable/download/file?deliverableId=82684. Accessed 27 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Jones, Elin Haf Gruffydd and Uribe-Jongbloed, Enrique (2013), Social Media and Minority Languages: Convergence and the Creative Industries, Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Jones, Elin Haf Gruffydd, Lainio, Jarmo, Moring, Tom and Resit, Fatima (2020), New Technologies, New Social Media and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Strasbourg: Council of Europe, https://edoc.coe.int/en/minority-languages/8265-new-technologies-new-social-media-and-the-european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages.html. Accessed 27 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. LaBerge, Laura, O’Toole, Clayton, Schneider, Jeremy and Smaje, Kate (2020), How COVID-19 Has Pushed Companies over the Technology Tipping Point: And Transformed Business Forever, New York: McKinsey & Company, https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-covid-19-has-pushed-companies-over-the-technology-tipping-point-and-transformed-business-forever. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Lua, Alfred (2017), ‘50 video marketing stats to help you create a winning social media strategy in 2017’, Buffer, 16 February, https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-video-marketing-statistics/?ref=buffer.com. Accessed 28 May 2023.
  24. McMonagle, Sarah, Cunliffe, Daniel, Jongbloed-Faber, Lysbeth and Jarvis, Paul (2019), ‘What can hashtags tell us about minority languages on Twitter? A comparison of #Cymraeg, #Frysk, And #Gaeilge’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 40:1, pp. 3249, https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2018.1465429.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Moriarty, Máiréad (2009), ‘Normalising language through television: The case of the Irish language television channel, TG4’, Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 4:2, pp. 13749, https://doi.org/10.1080/17447140902741288.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Moring, Tom (2007), ‘Functional completeness in minority language media’, in M. Cormack and N. Hourigan (eds), Minority Language Media: Concepts, Critiques and Case Studies, Clevedon, Buffalo, NY and Toronto: Multilingual Matters, pp. 1733.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Moring, Tom (2013), ‘Media markets and minority languages in the digital age’, Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe, 12:4, pp. 3453, https://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/downloads/publications/JEMIE/2013/Moring.pdf. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Newman, Nic (2022), ‘Overview and key findings of the 2022 Digital News Report’, Reuters Institute, 15 June, https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2022/dnr-executive-summary. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Newman, Nic, Fletcher, Richard, Robertson, Craig T., Eddy, Kirsten and Kleis Neilsen, Rasmus (2022), Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2022, Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/Digital_News-Report_2022.pdf. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Nic Giolla Mhichíl, Máiréad, Lynn, Theo and Rosati, Pierangelo (2018), ‘Twitter and the Irish language, #Gaeilge agents and activities: Exploring a data set with micro-implementers in social media’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 39:10, pp. 86881, https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2018.1450414.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. OSCE (2019), Tallinn Guidelines on National Minorities and the Media in the Digital Age, The Hague: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe High Commissioner on National Minorities, https://www.osce.org/hcnm/tallinn-guidelines. Accessed 27 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Pew Research Center (2021), Social Media Fact Sheet, Washington, 31 January, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/#panel-4abfc543-4bd1-4b1f-bd4a-e7c67728ab76. Accessed 27 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Riggins, Stephen (1992), Ethnic Minority Media: An International Perspective, New York: Sage Publications.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Scott, Caroline (2017), ‘How BBC News is experimenting with Instagram Stories to engage younger audiences’, Journalism, 3 January, https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/bbc-news-experiments-with-instagram-stories-to-engage-younger-audiences-/s2/a697503/. Accessed 28 May 2023.
  35. Tudela-Isanta, Anna and Milà-Garcia, Alba (2022), ‘La presencia del catalán en las plataformas digitales: El caso de Twitch y TikTok’, Caracol, 24:24, pp. 76109, https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2317-9651.i24p76-109.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Uribe-Jongbloed, Enrique (2014), ‘Minority language media studies beyond eurocentrism: Cormack’s seven conditions revisited’, Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies, 6:1, pp. 3554, https://doi.org/10.1386/cjcs.6.1.35_1.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Wardell, Kady (2022), ‘BBC News creates the world’s biggest news Instagram account’, International News Media Association: Ideas Blog, 16 May, https://www.inma.org/blogs/ideas/post.cfm/bbc-news-creates-the-world-s-biggest-news-instagram-account. Accessed 27 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Westcott, Kevin, Arbanas, Jana, Arkenberg, Chris, Auxler, Brooke, Loucks, Jeff and Downs, Kevin (2022), ‘2022 digital media trends, 16th edition: Toward the metaverse’, Deloitte Insights, 28 March, https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/digital-media-trends-consumption-habits-survey/summary.html. Accessed 27 May 2023.
  39. Willis, Craig (2023a), ‘The Galician TikTok channel offering a model of success for minority language public broadcasters’, Media@LSE, 13 September, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2023/09/13/the-galician-tiktok-channel-offering-a-model-of-success-for-minority-language-public-broadcasters/. Accessed 21 January 2024.
  40. Willis, Craig (2023b), ‘Minority language media and TikTok: Are broadcasters showing they are still relevant for younger audiences?’, ECMI Minorities Blog, 12 June, https://www.ecmi.de/infochannel/detail/ecmi-minorities-blog-minority-language-media-and-tiktok-are-broadcasters-showing-they-are-still-relevant-for-younger-audiences. Accessed 21 January 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Zabaleta, Iñaki, Gutierrez, Arantza, Ferre-Pavia, Carme, Fernandez, Itxaso, Urrutia, Santi and Xamardo, Nikolas (2013), ‘Website development and digital skill: The state of traditional media in European minority languages’, International Journal of Communication, 7, pp. 164166, https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/1986. Accessed 28 May 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Zabaleta, Iñaki, Xamardo, Nicolás, Gutiérrez, Arantza, Urrutia, Santi and Fernández, Itxaso (2010), ‘Assessment and comparison of current media and journalism systems in the Catalan, Galician and Basque languages’, Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies, 2:1, pp. 321, https://doi.org/10.1386/cjcs.2.1.3_1.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/cjcs_00100_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/cjcs_00100_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error