Reaching Out, Making Public:The Jamiat ul-Ulama South Africa and its Online Newsletter
Abstract
The main objective of this essay is to reflect upon the contents of one of JUSA’s newsletters to establish how JUSA or more specifically the editor manages these. In addition to issuing a variety of print magazines on various socio-political and religious matters, the Jamiat ul-Ulama (JUSA/JU) found the need to publish a weekly online newsletter for its audience. So far, it has issued its 14th volume with an average of 50 newsletters per year. This essay reflects on the contents of one of JUSA’s newsletters to establish how JUSA in general, and the editor specifically, manages content. It notes that the newsletter, with a global reach, covers religious issues and comments on selected socio-political events. Couched and expressed in conservative language, these issues seem to find support among the public particularly those with internet access.
