Today, the University of Johannesburg’s Bunting Road Campus is buzzing with energy as media leaders, community broadcasters, and digital communication experts gather for the NEMISA & NAB Community Media Roundtable. This high-impact session brings together the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to tackle pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the future of community media in South Africa.
Building Stronger Voices for Communities
Community media plays a pivotal role in ensuring that local stories, cultures, and voices are represented in the national conversation. The roundtable’s mission is clear: equip, connect, and empower the sector to thrive in a rapidly changing media environment.
Participants are discussing a range of crucial topics, including:
The digital transformation of community radio and TV
Strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation at local level
Sustainable funding and resource mobilisation for community stations
The role of skills development and training in professionalising the sector
Key Stakeholders and Partners
The event brings together:
Community radio and TV station managers from across the country
Media trainers and educators from NEMISA
Policy and advocacy representatives from NAB
Industry experts in content creation, digital migration, and audience engagement
These diverse perspectives ensure that the roundtable’s outcomes will be grounded in the realities of community media while informed by industry trends and technological advancements.
Digital Migration and New Opportunities
One of the day’s focal points is the analogue-to-digital transition, a national shift that will reshape how South Africans access media. Community broadcasters are exploring how to leverage new platforms—streaming, mobile apps, and social media—to expand reach and relevance without losing their local identity.
Capacity Building at the Heart of the Agenda
NEMISA has reaffirmed its commitment to developing practical training programmes for community broadcasters, ensuring they are equipped with skills in:
Digital content production
Audience analytics
Revenue generation
Ethical journalism and fact-checking
NAB is complementing this with advocacy for policy frameworks that safeguard community media’s independence while creating space for innovation.
A Platform for Collaboration
Rather than being a one-off event, today’s roundtable is part of a broader, ongoing collaboration between NEMISA and NAB. Outcomes from the discussions will feed into sector development plans and inform future workshops, funding initiatives, and digital literacy campaigns.
Looking Ahead
By the close of the day, attendees are expected to produce a practical action plan that will guide joint projects, training schedules, and policy advocacy efforts over the next year.
In a world where information is both a tool for empowerment and a potential weapon for division, gatherings like this are vital. As the voices around the table at Bunting Road Campus affirm, community media is not just surviving—it is adapting, innovating, and strengthening its role as the heartbeat of South African storytelling.
