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Radio Phone-in Talk Shows as Politically Significant Infotainment in Hong Kong

Department of Communication at Stanford University

Past research has generated two main characterizations of the radio phone-in talk show phenomenon. Some argue that talk shows can provide forums for public deliberation, while others regard talk shows as a form of infotainment that displaces serious political journalism. This study argues that public forum and infotainment are not necessarily incompatible with each other, and it tests this possibility by a case study of talk radio in Hong Kong. Analysis of a survey data set points to the infotainment characteristics of talk radio listening in the city. However, results also suggest that talk radio provides political information to listeners and serves as a forum for the public to criticize the government. The author thus argues that talk radio constitutes a form of politically significant infotainment in Hong Kong. Implications on the study of infotainment and talk radio in general and in the specific case of Hong Kong are discussed.

The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, Vol. 7, No. 4, 57-79 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/108118002236350


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