BIRDY.BUSINESS
Entertaining Politics, seriously?!
How talk show formats blur conceptual boundaries
In this PhD research project the interaction between journalists and politicians in television talk shows is investigated. By examining production processes as well as the form and style of the shows, the influence of the backstage processes on the on-screen interaction is shown. 
At this moment, both journalism and politics in the Netherlands are under pressure, changes in either field influencing the other. This research aims to contribute to the debate about mediatization of political behavior, the role of talk shows in political interviewing, as well as to the methodology of this field of research.
To map out the on- and off-screen processes regarding political interviews in Dutch talk shows, the most prominent Dutch talk shows are analyzed. With a combination of ethnographic research and interviews with journalists, editors, politicians, and PR advisors, the underlying ideas and motives are unraveled. A content analysis of these shows will reveal the influence of those processes on the political live interview on television.
In March 2017, this research has been successfully defended in public at the University of Groningen. The full text of the dissertation can be found here.
Selection of publications about this research (click on the title to view):