Journalism and Communication Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Journalism and Communication Theses and Dissertations by Subject "African Diaspora"

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    THE ROLE OF PODCASTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE IN SHAPING AFRICAN DIASPORA RELATIONSHIPS IN THE UNITED STATES
    (University of Oregon, 2024-08-07) Apiyo, Robert; Steeves, Leslie
    This dissertation examines the role and influence of podcasts in shaping intragroup relationships among African diasporan groups present in the U.S. Based on a qualitative case study analysis of three podcasts -- The Stoop, Caribbean Life in America and Work Bae (including the use of in-depth interviews, document and podcast analysis) -- this research argues that African diaspora podcasters employ various strategies aimed at, among other things, strengthening Afro diasporic consciousness while also challenging mainstream media’s exclusionary practices. These strategies include adopting a mesh of legacy radio broadcast practices, African diaspora communicative practices, weaponizing their own intersecting diasporic identities, and tapping into their diverse histories and lived experiences to offer open, honest, and intimate conversations. These creatives, who are on a mission to entertain, inform, educate, and “democratize journalism,” not only target the African diaspora, but at times also attract listeners from other demographics, including populations considered marginalized in the U.S. Topics featured on their platforms broadly range from building social cohesion, countering stereotypes and misconceptions, creating connections, diversifying narratives, promoting social justice, and voicing their own lived experiences. This dissertation’s findings support those of prior scholars, including Jenkins & Myers (2022), who argue that podcasts serve as an extension of the Black digital public sphere, a role that historically has been played by barbershops (Harris-Lacewall, 2010), the Black press (Berardi & Segady, 1990), the streets, educational institutions, and church (Black public sphere collective, 1995), as well as other expressive cultures including music, dance, and poetry. Each of the podcasts featured in the study is hosted by an African American, African immigrant or an Afro Caribbean based in the U.S., a tactic employed to ensure ethnic diversity and representation during this research exploration. However, as Alpers (2001) notes, individuals seeking to write about the African diaspora are likely to get entangled in the exercise of defining the term. I do struggle with the interchangeable use of the words “African diaspora” and “Black diaspora,” throughout this dissertation. This may be due to the crucial roles that racism, geography, Blackness, the legacies of enslavement and colonialism played during the horrific period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade that has led some individuals to describe those from the “African diaspora as the “Black diaspora” (Palmer, 1998). Findings based on analyzed podcasts confirm these assertions, with both terms applied in multiple contexts.