Audiovisual Politeness in TV Political Interviews

Abstract

This study analyses audiovisual politeness in political interviews of the four major candidates for Spanish prime minister in the December 20, 2015 elections, to wit: Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sánchez, Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera. We analyse quantitative data related to specific narrative elements including staging, insertion of audiovisual elements and the building and fracturing of discourse, among other things. In short, we have tried to collect data on the audiovisual discourse structure employed and its impact on the resulting political discourse. The results show that the audiovisual coverage afforded the four candidates by those who control the audiovisual discourse is not homogeneous.