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

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.