Reconsidering ethnic media research: An argument for a diasporic identity framework. Issue 5 (19th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oh, David C.
• Is Part Of: Atlantic journal of communication. Volume 24:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 264
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2016-10-19
• Subjects: Communication -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1080/15456870.2016.1232259
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-6870

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Since Robert Park's foundational work on the ethnic press, the assimilation-pluralism paradigm has dominated research. This article proposes a new framework that combines ethnic media and diasporic media literatures to advance future scholarship. Ethnic media research can provide direction in better conceptualizing media of ethnic groups/diasporas and can reinforce the importance of racial context, and diasporic media research can address the limitations of the assimilation-pluralism framework and its inability to incorporate globalization, transnationalism, and hybridity. This article submits that ethnic media be conceptualized as specific to media produced by a diasporic or indigenous ethnic population within the host society and that future textual research on ethnic media engage a diasporic identity framework. The framework would (a) call attention to transnationalism; (b) call attention to local/transnational, ethnic/race, and inter-generational tensions; (c) focus on race as a salient and important local context for diasporic meaning; and (d) consider the site of production.