A Critical Analysis of Current Affair Talk Shows on Pakistan Television News Channels: A Mirror or Bamboozle of the Society?

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the content, popularity and preferences of the issues highlighted in the current affairs talk shows on prime time in Pakistan. Therefore, the top three talk shows of prime time (8:00 pm to 9:00 pm) Capital Talk, Off the Record and On the Front from January to June 2020 were analyzed under the light of Agenda Setting theory and Rhetorical Communication theory. After analyzing the content of shows, the questionnaire was also constructed as an instrument to explore the public mindset and accumulated data. In this study results of 342 respondents are incorporated through simple random sampling. It was concluded that one of the most important but contentious product of news channels after news bulletins is talk shows in which interpersonal conflicts and confrontation among guests are mostly broadcasted but these shows are popular and a great number of public still prefer to watch regularly. It was found that majority of the respondents supported the argument that current affair talk shows are a mirror of the society despite showing their dislikeness for the way in which talk shows highlight the issues.