ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the interface of political, economic and digital elements and their effects on indigenous language media performance and sustainability. It explores the relationships of the state, the open market and the digital revolution, and how the collaboration, in a way, has affected the indigenous language press. The book examines the influence of colonial and post-independence language policies and politics, media economics and political economy on the structure, development and sustainability of the indigenous language press in Zimbabwe. It explains the transformation of the Mmega Dikgang community newspaper from being a Setswana newspaper, to a Setswana–English newspaper, and eventually to an English language newspaper. The book explains the endangered survival of Alaroye as an indigenous language newspaper and what lessons can be garnered by investors and publishers, media professionals, readers and the Nigerian nation at large.
