Shifting Journalism Boundaries in Zimbabwe

This book investigates the ways in which peripheral news actors in digital media are transforming journalism in Zimbabwe. Journalism's boundaries have become blurred, porous and fuzzy as non-traditional news actors-such as bloggers, social media influencers, citizen journalists, start-ups, satirists, comedians and fact-checkers-gain increasing influence in digital spaces. As legacy news media attempt to ring-fence the field, journalism becomes both 'boundaried' and 'boundless'. This book examines how peripheral journalistic practices are impacting Zimbabwe-a semi-authoritarian regime facing significant economic pressures. Taking into account Zimbabwe's specific sociocultural, political and economic context, this book explores how political issues are mediated by periphery actors, how they deal with challenges to their legitimacy and professionalism, how sustainable their positions are and finally what the implications of shifting journalistic boundaries are for education and training institutions. As the impact of digital technologies continues to rise, this timely book will be an important read for researchers working on journalism, media and communication, and African studies.

Mphathisi Ndlovu is Professor at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe. Lungile Tshuma is Lungile Tshuma is researcher in the Centre for Communication and Culture, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal. Tshuma is also Senior Research Associate in the department of Communication and Media, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

CHAPTER 1 Peripherality and Shifting Journalism Boundaries, Part I: Peripheral News Actors: Theory, Practice and Politics, CHAPTER 2 Non-Traditional News Actors and the Shifting Journalism Boundaries in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 3 Platform Journalism and the Mediation of Political Power in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 4 Political Satire as Decentred or Peripheral Journalism on Social Media platforms in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 5 Facebook satire as alternative journalism: A Case Study of Magamba TV and Bustop TV in the 2018 post- election period in Zimbabwe, Part II: Alternative Currents in Journalism, CHAPTER 6 TikTok and the Transformation of Journalism Practice in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 7 Legitimising journalism practise from the margins: Perspectives from peripheral journalism actors in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 8 Podcasts and Shifting Journalism Cultures in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 9 Fact checking initiatives and changing journalism practice in Zimbabwe, Part III: Sustainability of Digital Media Start-Ups, CHAPTER 10 Media sustainability and Digital Media Start-Ups: Implications on journalism boundaries in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 11 Entrepreneurial Journalism and Digital Media Enterprises in Zimbabwe, Part IV: Transformations in Journalism Education, CHAPTER 12 Shifting Journalism Boundaries and Implications on Journalism Education in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 13 Voices from the Margins: Campus Radio Stations, Youth Participation and Democratic Engagement in Zimbabwe, CHAPTER 14 Journalism Training in Zimbabwe in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Institutional Challenges