Carnivalism and Engaging Journalism in the Current-Affairs Podcasts in South Korea

Chang Sup Park

doi:10.4236/ajc.2016.43008

Abstract

In this digital age, the means of journalism are being drastically reinvented and the character of news is being constantly reconstructed. This study examines the nature of podcast journalism recently emerging in South Korea, based on two unique concepts—“carnivalism” and “engaging journalism”. A carnival creates an arena where free expression of non-legitimate voices could resist and mock the dominant power. This study finds that Korean podcasts tend to subvert a range of authoritative discourses and provide a journalism venue for comic criticism and emotional catharsis. Podcasts not only serve to lampoon the establishment, but also re-engage people who have been left largely disillusioned from mainstream news into the democratic process. This research argues that the discourse in the current affairs podcasts takes on the nature of “engaging journalism”, which motivates ordinary individuals to engage in elite-challenging political action.

Highlights

Journalism based on new information technologies takes on diverse forms, such as online newspapers, Internet television, Internet radio, blogging, and podcasting
Podcasts serve to lampoon the establishment, and re-engage people who have been left largely disillusioned from mainstream news into the democratic process
This research argues that the discourse in the current affairs podcasts takes on the nature of “engaging journalism”, which motivates ordinary individuals to engage in elite-challenging political action

Summary

Introduction

Journalism based on new information technologies takes on diverse forms, such as online newspapers, Internet television, Internet radio, blogging, and podcasting. Park 76 distributed to personal computers or portable devices, such as Apple iPads or smartphones. Since their advent in the early 2011, numerous podcasts specialized in current affairs have appealed to Korean people, especially young generations. Every week almost a thousand episodes of current-affairs podcasts are being made in Korea and attract a significant portion of news consumers (Podbbang, 2016). The current-affairs podcasts in Korea are distinguished from traditional news forms, in that they center on explicit satirical criticism toward political elites and the establishment (Lee et al, 2012; Yoo, 2011). Current-affairs podcasts are exercising a significant impact on the journalism of Korea (Baek, 2012)

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Conclusion