Do those who listen also speak out? Political and citizen participation of radio newscasts audiences in Mexico

Abstract

Audience studies highlight the relevance of studying citizens’ participation in the media convergence environment. This study evaluates audience participation in the three foremost local radio newscasts in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where radio remains present in everyday life and public issues trigger audience’s interest to express themselves through this medium. The methodology was designed based on Carpentier’s Analytical Tool for Critical Analysis of Media Processes and UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators (MDI). It consisted of an analysis of modalities of audience participation and interviews with audience members, production teams, activists, and politicians. Findings show that audiences prefer to listen to other citizens on air, but participation is scarce and mainly limited to messages on the radio newscasts’ social networks sites. Audiences’ rights and the role of radio as a platform for democratic conversation among citizens and government need to be promoted and regulated, because commercial interests prevail. Despite technological innovations, the design of newscasts remains unidirectional.