What do regular Swedes have on their minds? : A Mixed Methods Analysis of Topics Raised by Participants of Call-In Radio Show Ring P1

Sammanfattning

This longitudinal study examines the topics discussed on the Swedish public service call-in radio show Ring P1. Analyzing discussions from 2009 and 2023, it traces changes in audience priorities on this mediated national public sphere and compares them with the SOM Institute’s annual “Most Important Problem” survey data to explore how the participatory program’s agenda diverges from the mainstream Swedish one. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative thematic analysis with a quantitative component, the study – framed by theories of the public sphere and agenda setting – maps shifts in thematic focus. From “Healthcare” (12.1% of calls), “Law and order” (10.1%) and “Ideology concepts” (9.7%) leading in 2009, the most discussed topics on the program become “Law and order” (17.3% of contributions), “Infrastructure and Communications” (11.4%), and “International matters” (10.3%) in 2023. The development of this prioritized agenda reflects evolving societal concerns and media influences. Unlike previous research on the program (Barcella et al., 2009), the study does not identify immigration questions as a central theme. Instead, “Law and order” emerges as a recurring and evolving topic, discussed differently in 2009 and 2023 as callers respond to shifts in the mainstream news agenda. While that agenda clearly influences the program’s content, the study demonstrates that discussions on Ring P1 are strongly rooted in public sphere dynamics. Deliberative practices, such as norm-setting and ideological debate, make participation on the program not merely an act of spontaneous expression but a process of collective value negotiation among participants. Aligning only partially with the SOM’s national survey trends, owing both to the self-selective nature of call-in radio participation and the program’s deliberative dynamics, public sphere-driven debates on Ring P1 appear to reveal a broader and more nuanced range of perspectives than static polling can capture. By contrasting the interactive, qualitative dynamics of live call-in debate with the structured nature of survey data, the study highlights how participatory radio enriches understanding of public opinion formation and meaning-making. In an increasingly fragmented media environment marked by individualized consumption and polarization in online spaces, it shows how Ring P1 exemplifies the enduring relevance of collective communicative spaces free of commercial logic for the citizenry.