Reality TV and civic engagement

Researching the lives of the young Palestinians who ran for ‘The President’

Bibliographic Data

ID21192018
AuthorsValentina Baú (0000-0002-0212-8644, Western Sydney University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume17
Issue3
Pages567-587
Publication date2024-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCreative Industries Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-0694 • E-ISSN: 1751-0708
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17510694.2022.2161239
OpenAlexW4313477667
LanguageEN
References cited26

This article analyses the role that Reality TV can play in the lives of young participants, when a programme is designed as a strategic intervention to achieve change. With roots in Communication for Development notions, this study brings together different theoretical fields to illustrate how media can be created with the intent of enhancing young people’s awareness of the important role they can play in society through targeted activities that occur during media production. The experience of the young contestants from The President TV show, broadcast in the Palestinian Territories in 2013 and 2015, is examined. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with some of the finalists of the show; information gathered has been analysed in the light of a framework that brings together media participation and civic engagement. Findings show how the format and structure of the programme has enhanced participants’ understanding of the social, political and economic spheres of a conflict-affected reality, contributing to their engagement with peace-oriented civic practices long after the end of the show

Civic engagement · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Public engagement · Public relations · Reality television · Reality tv · Social media · Sociology · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access