Immigrant media and communication processes for social change in Korea : a case study of Migrants Workers Television

In the context of critical development communication, the processes are discussed centering two key constructs including 'power' and 'dialogic praxis' in the analytical frame for this research. In addition, theories and practices of immigrant media and social movements provide constructive perspectives discussing characteristics forms of collective actions for immigrant communities (local-global, transnational, and heterogeneous; roles of immigrant media (movement resource and cultural resource) in a host society. However, we are less informed about communication processes for migrant agents to construct migrant social movement. Much less is discussed about communication processes and their implications of media communications of immigrant media. Thus, to bridge the theoretical and practical gaps, this dissertation research attempt to contextualize communication processes of an immigrant media, MWTV, engaged in the migrant social movement in order to explore how relatively powerless migrant agents develop alternative forms and ways of praxis for social change through their media communications. Throughout two field research, this particular research could identify a 'asymmetric power structure' formed through the relations between diverse social agencies related to the processes for social changes for the immigrant communities in Korea, which induce 'the mediated praxis' shaping 'asymmetric solidarity,' 'objectification of the migrant agents,' and 'assimilation of movement culture.' Then, the immigrant media, MWTV have been developed to 'remediate' existing dominant forms and ways of social changes constitutive of 'dialogic praxis' of the foreign agents. Thus, media communication of immigrant media is viewed as conscious collective actions to 'remediate mediated praxis' for social and cultural change in a host society rather than mere symbolic resources for social or cultural reorientation. It means that the flexible, collaborator, and reflective communication structure of MWTV are deliberately reconstructed not as 'conditions' but as 'consequences' of critical reflection on mediated praxis.