Interculturality and the media. Building bridges or burning them?

At a time of changing geopolitical scenarios and revived nationalisms, what position does the media take in intercultural matters? And how does the audience interpret media text that rely on intercultural content?
The paper uses data from a pilot study to analyse the discourses in an infotainment program and to explore qualitatively the interaction of one research participant with the text. The research uses a Critical Discourse Analysis lens and aims to explore the effects of mass-mediated travel and cultural programs on an audience. The mediation analytical framework that has been designed as part of the project will be introduced and briefly examined before looking at some of the data and discussing some preliminary findings.

The paper aims to contribute to discussions in both Media Studies and Critical Discourse Studies by focusing on the genre of infotainment and by exploring its effects on an audience with regard to intercultural issues.