Cultural societies and information needs : Croats in New Zealand

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Maja Krtalić
• Author: Ivana Hebrang Grgić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of information and Communication sciences)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Information and Communication Sciences; Library Science

Abstract (english)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to explore how small immigrant communities in host countries collect, disseminate and present information about their home country and their community, and the role of formal societies and clubs in it.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents the results of a case study of the Croatian community in New Zealand. To illustrate how cultural and technological changes affected information dissemination and communication within the community, the case study presents both historical and current situations. Methods used in this case study included a content analysis of historical newspapers published in New Zealand by the Croatian community, content analysis of current webpages and social networking sites, and interviews with participants who have management roles in Croatian societies and communities in New Zealand. Data were collected from December 2018 to February 2019.
Findings – Formally established clubs and societies, but also informal groups of immigrants and their descendants can play a significant role in providing their members with information about the culture, social life and events of the home country. They also play a significant role in preserving part of the history and heritage which is relevant, not only for a specific community but also for the history and culture of a home country.
Originality/value – The methodology used in the research is based on data from community archives and can be used for studying other small immigrant communities in New Zealand or abroad. The case study presented in the paper illustrates how the information environment of small immigrant communities develops and changes over the years under the influence of diverse political, social and technological changes.

• Keywords (english): immigrants; New Zealand; information; community archives; Croats; cultural societies; communication
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
• Numbering: vol. 68, no. 8/9, pp. 652-673
• e-ISSN: 2514-9342
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-02-2019-0017
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:270:364138
• Publication: 2019
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-21 10:54:39