Using Autoethnography to Expand the Boundaries of Podcast Studies and Investigate Relationships between Hosts and Users
Karl Turgut Maloney Yorganci
School of Arts & Media, University of Salford
K.T.Maloneyyorganci@edu.salford.ac.uk
Despite being on the rise with increases in both audience numbers and advertising revenue, numerous scholars have stated that podcasting has received insufficient academic attention. Studying new media such as podcasts from all angles can help us paint a more complete picture of our ever-changing media landscape. As a qualitative method autoethnography seeks to describe and systematically analyze (graphy) personal experience (auto) in order to understand larger cultural phenomena (ethno). This study presents a personal narrative autoethnography that examines the positionality of the researcher as a podcast user, with particular focus on his relationships with stand-up comedian podcast hosts. Additionally, it argues that using the method can expand the boundaries of podcast studies by complementing and informing more classical methods of audience research. The findings of this study provide insight into a number of different areas such as exposure, homophily, authenticity, parasocial relationships and influence.
Keywords
Podcasts, autoethnography, audience research, parsaocial relationships, influence
Author Biography
KARL TURGUT MALONEY YOGANCI, is a PhD candidate in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. His major research interests lie in the areas of media effects, podcasting, parasocial relationships, international students and autoethnography.
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