Minority ethnic media as communities of practice: Professionalism and identity politics in interaction

This paper examines the current circumstances of minority ethnic media production. It particularly addresses the tensions that may exist for minority ethnic media workers between their commitment to a professional identity and status, and their negotiation of their own ethnic identity. Through employing a specific model of communities of practice this paper provides an analytic frame which illuminates some of the challenges which may be particularly present in the institutional dynamics and identity politics operating within minority ethnic media enterprises. In noting the synergy between the minority ethnic media activities and the media systems of the dominant ethnic communities this paper argues for a recognition of the role of minority ethnic media in shaping a vigorous public sphere, and advocates a more extensive commitment of research resources to the analysis of their role in the multi-ethnic nation-state and transnationally.