. Although scholars have identified political talk radio (PTR) as an important site of political socialization, the current literature has largely failed to examine the political relevance of PTR's rhetorical strategies and has virtually ignored Canadian PTR altogether. This article addresses these gaps by analyzing Adler On Line, Canada's only nationally syndicated commercial PTR program, to show that how Canadian PTR talks, particularly its use of populist rhetoric, plays a central role in establishing what type of political deliberation and debate is possible within it. Divided into two main sections, the article first explores how Adler On Line renders a particular epistemological framework authoritative. The second section then analyzes the rules and norms of political expression and debate encouraged by the show's style of argutainment debate. The article concludes with a more speculative evaluation of the practical consequences as well as the theoretical and normative implications of these discursive practices.Resume. Bien que les auteurs de recherches reconnaissent que la radio interactive politique (RIP) represente un lieu important de socialisation politique, la litterature courante dans ce domaine omet, en grande partie, d'analyser la signification politique des strategies rhetoriques de la RIP, tout en laissant entierement dans l'ombre les activites de RIP canadiennes. Visant a combler ces lacunes, le present article offre, dans un premier temps, une analyse de l'emission Adler On Line, qui est la seule emission de RIP commerciale souscrite nationalement au Canada, puis demontre que le mode d'expression typique adopte dans cette emission, et surtout son usage de la rhetorique populiste, ont une incidence determinante sur le genre de deliberation et de debat politiques que permet la radio parlee au Canada. L'article se divise en deux grandes parties. La premiere explore le cadre epistemologique particulier de l'emission Adler On Line et la maniere dont ce cadre se voit empreint d'autorite. La seconde partie analyse les regles ou normes de debat et d'expression des opinions politiques qu'encourage le style divertissant de cette emission-debat. Pour conclure, les auteurs evaluent de facon plus speculative les consequences pratiques de ces formes d'expression discursive, tout comme leur incidence theorique et normative.

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Ears Wide Shut: Epistemological Populism, Argutainment and Canadian Conservative Talk Radio

This article describes radio programs that include one-on-one interactions between a host and caller about current affairs. The description reveals 2 formats: talk-back and phone-in. Talk-backs are...

The Commercial and the Public “Public Spheres”: Two Types of Political Talk-Radio and Their Constructed Publics

This article analyzes the openings in host-caller interactions in three leading U.S. political talk radio (PTR) programs. Conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis are used to describe how fandom is achieved in these shows. Callers present themselves as fans in the first possible position in the interaction, using various practices ranging from uttering the word ditto to creating extended discourse structures. The hosts usually perceive these practices as compliments and appreciate them and the callers. PTR is a prime example of a fan-public, since its host harnesses the fans to achieve his political (and commercial) agenda. The hyphen in fan-public deserves attention, because this notion is rooted in infotainment, combining the relationships of the entertainment business, fans, and stars with the realm of politics, which would assume some critical notion and individuality in the decision-making processes.

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“Rush, I Love You”: Interactional Fandom on U.S. Political Talk Radio

This study found support for the Schwartz (1994) two-value political ideology model in relation to political talk radio (PTR) program choice. People who listened to liberal PTR hosts were found to be associated with “universalism.” People who listened to conservative PTR hosts were found to be associated with “security.” Additional values were also found to be associated with listening to liberal and conservative PTR hosts. In addition, discriminant analysis was used to develop a model which could predict PTR listening based on audience values. These findings add to the understanding of the uses and gratifications of listening to political talk radio.

Jeffrey K. Lyons

Papers

Political Talk Radio and Values: Finding Support for the Two-Value Political Ideology Model