ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a theoretical account of mediatised political participation. Comparing secondary sources and original research, presents preliminary insights by analysing audience participations and public participations through second screens. Mass-mediated communication serves a problematic role for the public deliberation of political issues and for political participation as well. Regarding the transformation of communication and participation in the public sphere, political television talk shows serve as a prime example for audience engagement opportunities in a mediated setting. Through the course of digitalisation, a new form of audience integration and thus participation comes into being. Television talk shows include audience members in many ways which changed during the course of time. Based on the theory of mediatisation, the chapter argues that television audiences and their viewing behaviour are shaped by the use of second screens. When audience members turn to second screens during a television show, they use it merely in a passive way.
