Press Conference Debates: A Conversational Analysis Study

Abstract

The study uses a dataset consisting of 30 videos of press conference debates involving the former US President Donald Trump and media reporters and journalists. With reference to the application of conversation analysis (CA), this study examines the opening sequences of press conference debates, revealing that journalists employ various tactics before asking questions. These tactics include expressing disagreement, using reporting speech to convey criticism, and directly criticizing the speaker. These strategies reflect the journalists' professionalism and expertise in the debated subject matter. The study also found that speakers often use accusations to counter evasive responses and shift the debate's focus towards a conclusion. This analysis highlights the tense and confrontational nature of press conference interactions. The power imbalance is evident in the act of taking turns, as reporters consistently construct questions based on their knowledge of the debate topic. The extent of power primarily depends on the effective use of available argumentative resources throughout the interaction.