Abstract
<p>The present essay aims to reflect on the questions of how the <em>BBC</em> news website discussion forum <em>Have your say</em> is organized and to what extent it can be considered as a transnational or global public sphere for public deliberation. In order to do so, one must firstly look at this discussion forum in terms of its structure, so that we can comprehend in a descriptive and formal way what is <em>Have your say</em>. Then, to try to understand and suggest what exactly <em>Have your say</em> is in terms of the possibility of being a global public sphere for public deliberation, one must tackle into a reflection that encompasses the concepts of transnational/global public sphere (Habermas, 1996; Castells, 2008), public deliberation (Pateman, 1970; Drvzek, 2000; Abelson et al., 2003), as well as some mediation/mediatization paradigms. The goal of this essay is to provide an objective academic reflection by attempting to frame this specific online phenomenon within the concepts above mentioned, to ultimately argue and prove that online discussion forums such as <em>Have your say</em> are by definition ambivalent. </p>
Highlights
M [Habermas 1996; Castells 2008], public deliberation [Pateman 1970; Dryzek 2000; Abelson et al 2003], as well as some mediation/mediatization paradigms
Its last broadcast was on 20 April 2008. his program was associated with the BBC news website discussion forum with the same name. his discussion forum still maintains its own topics for contributors to voice their opinions on, serving as a platform for people to discuss and debate stories, by leaving comments on news posts
C represent a global public sphere? Or by controlling the conversation by means of BBC. Journalists moderation, these comments only constitute themselves as user-generated content selected by journalists and aligned with BBC editorial interests? should not a global public sphere platform such as Have Your Say be neutral? Is not that assumption compromised when public deliberation is formally mediated through a speciic news organization website?
Summary
M [Habermas 1996; Castells 2008], public deliberation [Pateman 1970; Dryzek 2000; Abelson et al 2003], as well as some mediation/mediatization paradigms. Herefore, to analyze and conceive Have Your Say as a global public sphere platform, we must take into consideration, the idea of online discussion forums as “public agoras”, and the fact that the Internet is inherently a place that provides diverse opportunities for people to share their ideas in various ways.
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