Arenas of interaction in the mediated public sphere

News and public affairs programming is increasingly organized around modes of human interaction rather than scripted narratives. This paper surveys a number of such interactional forms in the US, with an emphasis on news interviews, news conferences, and various forms involving audience participation (radio call-in shows, TV talk shows, and town meetings). These are analyzed as distinct arenas within the public sphere, each with its own conditions of access and modes of conduct. Accordingly, interactional arenas are examined from the standpoint of their historical development, constraints on participation, and the evolving norms and practices that organize conduct. The conclusion of the paper addresses the broader ramifications of broadcast interaction for journalism, politics, and the public sphere. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.