Public Participation Media
Public Participation Media has an enduring appeal for MCA researchers
because it presents analysts with the opportunity to access an
environment where ‘ordinary people’ negotiate their beliefs and opinions
regarding everyday issues (Hutchby, 2001). This body of work includes
analysis of radio phone-in shows (e.g. Fitzgerald and Housley, 2002;
Housley 2002; Housley and Fitzgerald, 2002; Author and Author, date;
Ohara and Saft, 2003) and televisions broadcasts (e.g. Bovet, 2009;
Livingstone and Lunt, 1994; Myers, 2001; Tolson, 2001; Thornborrow 2000,
2007).
Livingstone and Lunt (1994) suggest that television talk shows are more
commonly aimed at an ‘everyday’ audience, and therefore discourses of
real-life experience are typically privileged over more abstract
expertise. Another distinctive feature of television talk shows is the
significance of the studio, and/or viewing audience, whose presence
amplifies the publicly performative nature of the interaction
(Thornborrow, 2007). Given our interest in the exploration of mundane
category use and experiential expertise, television talk shows offer
fruitful site for investigation.