New Edited Volume on Minority-Language Media Published
In July 2025, a new and significant edited volume on minority-language media was released—a collaborative initiative led by the ECMI together with the University of the Basque Country. Published by Palgrave Macmillan/Springer Nature in the renowned Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities series, the book expands the existing research landscape with a rich variety of thematic and geographical perspectives.
The volume builds on key publications in the field, including Cormack and Hourigan (2007) and Jones and Uribe-Jongbloed (2013), positioning itself as a natural continuation of these seminal works. The chapters explore the current state of minority-language media worldwide—from policy frameworks to practical case studies—highlighting the challenges and new opportunities emerging in the context of digitalization and the influence of new media. Topics such as language equality, language diversity in crisis situations, regulation, public broadcasting, academic teaching, kin-state engagement, and sustainable communication are discussed from an international standpoint.
Besides co-editing the volume, the ECMI Politics and Civil Society Cluster contributed a chapter authored by Sergiusz Bober and Craig Willis, focusing on the digital transformation of Der Nordschleswiger, the newspaper of the German minority in Denmark. The chapter examines how the newspaper’s audience was involved in preparing the digital shift—an essential aspect for media outlets operating in minority languages. This is because such media not only inform but also connect their communities, providing a crucial space for debates around identity, political aspirations, education, and more. Ensuring that no part of the community is left behind during periods of technological change is therefore vital.
The analysis highlights various forms of community engagement—from surveys and in-person technical support to online tutorials—and proposes a model that may serve as guidance for other minority-language media outlets facing similar decisions in the near future.
This new volume offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of minority-language media research. It will be of interest to lecturers, students, policymakers, research institutions, media practitioners, journalists, and anyone engaged in questions of media diversity, language policy, and sustainable communication.
