Comparing Civility and Inclusivity of E-Discussion Forum and Radio Talk Platform: A Critical Discourse Analysis of User Comments on the Newest and Oldest 'Faceless', Mediated Discursive Spaces

Abstract

This study examines user comments of radio talk show call-ins and the corresponding digital discussion forums comments for National Public Radio's (NPR) show On Point. While both media platforms are anonymous and moderated rigorously by NPR staff, the nature and content of the comments in both are vastly different. A frequency analysis followed by critical discourse analysis of the content suggests that the percentage civility of the content in both media, when measured through Papacharissi [1] coding scheme, is very similar. However, the study shows difference in inclusivity, variety of content and degree of incivility. The study further hints that the role of moderator, the role of screener, and the difference in the location of time gap or time lag between the generation of content and the public release of content in final form may be possible reasons that contribute to the difference in nature of interaction in the two 'faceless' mediated discursive spaces.