ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relationship between radio as 'traditional' or 'legacy media' and the internet and social media as 'new' media, and shows how the 'new' media achieve cultural significance by refashioning the old media. It focuses on commercial and public radio broadcasting and its engagement with social media. The online networking site Facebook and micro-blogging service Twitter are increasingly intersecting with mainstream news applications in South Africa. Drawing on a qualitative approach, reflecting interviews with radio journalists together with a qualitative content analysis of tweets and Facebook posts from commercial talk and music radio stations, the chapter explores how radio journalists and listeners use social media. Radio listeners often used their mobile phones to engage in citizen journalism, particularly now that social media affords the possibility for direct engagement with radio station staff. ICTs have expanded communicative radio spaces and transformed the nature of audience engagement.
