Exploring Media Platforms to Serve the Needs of the South Sudanese Former Refugee Community in Southeast Queensland

Abstract

Community broadcasting is being displaced by digital media, the Internet, and associated technologies and the need for migrant and former refugee communities to own and control their own media remains strong, especially in response to persistent stereotyping on the part of mainstream media. We present results of a study undertaken with the South Sudanese community in Southeast Queensland to explore the needs, uses, and possibilities of online media. Focus groups with 31 Sudanese men and women indicated that they saw a need for a Sudanese community website that would assist the community with integrating into mainstream society, promoting the positive contribution made by the community to Australian society, as well as with maintenance of their own cultures and languages.

KEYWORDS:

• Sudan
• Australia
• refugee
• media platform
• community broadcasting