Cultural societies and information needs: Croats in New Zealand
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 4 September 2019
Issue publication date: 15 November 2019
Abstract
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
Citation
Krtalić, M. and Hebrang Grgić, I. (2019), "Cultural societies and information needs: Croats in New Zealand", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 68 No. 8/9, pp. 652-673. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-02-2019-0017
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited