The Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research unit of the North-West University (NWU) wants to find out why businesses in African language media are unstable, and what can be done about it.

The research unit hosted an event on 23 February 2023 to engage with relevant stakeholders to discuss the survival, management and economics of African language media.

The director of the ILMA research unit, Prof Abiodun Salawu, says it is important that the university does research that betters the community and is meaningful to them.

They are conducting a study on African language media development and sustainability to determine why businesses in African language press and/or media are unstable.

We want to know what can be done to develop African language journalism into quality journalism, while also ensuring its profitability. Our study also seeks to find what effect digitisation can have on the profitability of African language media,” he adds.

During the engagement, postgraduate students in the ILMA research unit also shared their research findings.

Attendees of the ILMA research unit’s stakeholder engagement event.