A Prolegomena to the Study of the Romani Media in Eastern Europe

Among the wealth of ethnic media outlets in Eastern Europe, the Romani media have grown faster than any others despite small audiences and the poverty, illiteracy and absence of social, political and linguistic cohesiveness of their natural constituency in the region. Yet, beyond their potential symbolic value, the growth of the Romani media appears to defy the customary expectations with regard to functions, roles and effects in a region where the ethnic media aid minority identity, cultural preservation and participation.