| Contents > Talkback radio: power and perception by Liz Gould |
Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5  |
Politics, power and talkback radio
Since the early days of talkback, politicians have recognised the potential of the talkback to reach segments of the population. Many state premiers have established regular spots on talkback radio programs, taking advantage of the local appeal of radio. Gough Whitlam made use of talkback during the lead up to the Federal election campaign, Bob Hawke was known to make use of talkback radio programs and Paul Keating once famously declared ‘if you educate John Laws you educate middle Australia’ (in Goot, OCAP). However it has been the incumbent Prime Minister’s embrace of the genre over the last decade, since winning office in 1996, that has seen talkback enjoy a newfound prominence on the public and media agenda. As has been widely acknowledged, no other prime minister before Howard has made such frequent and regular appearances on these programs – radio appears to be Howard’s political media genre of choice.
Since his election win in March 1996, Howard appears frequently with a small number of hosts on metropolitan radio stations: Neil Mitchell (breakfast) and Nick McCallum (drive) on station 3AW, and in Sydney, Alan Jones on 2GB and John Laws on 2UE. Although he does appear on a mix of commercial and local ABC radio stations across the country, Howard’s radio appearances are concentrated in the Sydney and Melbourne radio markets. Likewise, access to Howard’s Cabinet ministers is often restricted to a handful of non-journalists. As ABC talk radio host, Jon Faine, notes: “the concentration of power in so few hands is worthy of closer examination” (Faine, 2005, p176).
Furthermore, the high level of political surveillance and media monitoring by large news organisations as well as major political parties ensure that other media also covers politician’s appearances on talkback. Not only are politicians aware that their performances are being ‘media monitored’, but as Murray Goot notes: government leaders appearing on morning talkback can set the day’s media agenda, and program excerpts may frame news and comment in the print media the following day (Goot, OCAP). Moreover, talkback has the ability to not only put issues on the agenda, but, as Turner has noted, to revive dying issues (Turner et. al., 2006, p115), or, to heighten public sentiment or awareness about particular issues. The increased political interest in talkback radio has seen the format take on a significant role as a creator and disseminator of public affairs in Australia.
ConclusionIn recent years, talkback has enjoyed a high profile. While the transgressions of individual talkback presenters have frequently made headlines, this negative press has also heightened the visibility of this medium. Scholarly interest and media attention in talkback has increased in the last five years in the wake of two headline-making scandals that neatly highlight some of the consequences of the commercial and political power underpinning (metropolitan) talkback radio programming. The first was the official inquiry concluded in 2000 by the broadcasting regulator, then the Australian Broadcasting Authority, investigating allegations that several top-rating talkback hosts had not disclosed payments received for personal commercial affiliations: dubbed the ‘Cash for Comment’ affair. The second time the talkback radio industry hit the headlines was in 2004, when issues from the ‘Cash for Comment’ affair resurfaced after one talkback host (John Laws) publicly implicated another host’s involvement (Alan Jones) in an intimate trio with the head of the broadcasting regulator, and the Prime Minister of Australia. After enduring several weeks of gossip and controversy, the embattled head of the ABA took an early retirement while the Prime Minister continued to deny the allegations. The latter incident – although short-lived – affirmed that not only does talkback radio carry commercial influence, but that it has considerable political leverage as well. However, despite increasing scholarly attention, the implications of the commercial and political power of talkback radio are not yet fully understood.
| Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Contents > Talkback radio: power and perception by Liz Gould |