Public access broadcasting and democratic participation in the age of mediated politics

McNair, B., Hibberd, M. and Schlesinger, P. (2002) Public access broadcasting and democratic participation in the age of mediated politics. Journalism Studies, 3(3), pp. 407-422. (doi: 10.1080/14616700220145623)

Abstract

This article presents the results of research carried out as part of the Economic and Social Research Council's Democracy and Participation programme. Drawing on new empirical data assembled by the authors from interviews with programme makers, public participants and members of the listening and viewing audience, it seeks to evaluate the role of political access broadcasting in the British democratic process, against the background of a perceived crisis of democratic participation. The article identifies the broadcasters' aims in the construction of political access programmes and traces recent trends in the development of the genre. It reports on public perceptions of the effectiveness of access in facilitating critical scrutiny of political elites, concluding that these programmes comprise a distinctive element of British political culture. In a political environment characterised by public cynicism toward politicians, access programmes represent an important space for public-politician interaction.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McNair, Prof Brian and Schlesinger, Professor Philip
• Authors: McNair, B., Hibberd, M., and Schlesinger, P.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
• Journal Name: Journalism Studies
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1461-670X
• ISSN (Online): 1469-9699