Dissertation Research: The Effect of Mass Communication on Ethnic Identity in a Developing Country

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Mass communications systems are growing rapidly in developing countries. Because of the expense, radio has become an increasingly important information source in rural and poor areas. It is important, therefore, to understand how postcolonial societies are using and integrating this advanced technological mode of communication with indigenous modes of expression. This project addresses the relationship between mass media, language, and social identify in Kitwe, Zambia. The researcher will examine the role of radio in shaping Zambians'conceptions of themselves and their changing society. She will also see how popular Bemba and English radio talk shows and dramas vary in the way they address contemporary social issues. By situating mass communication forms in their ethnographic, historical, and linguistic contexts, this project will illuminate the interactive nature of mass communications in a changing society.