Adelaide Nga-yan Lau. / Thesis submitted in: December 2001. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-158). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Introduction --- p.p. 1 -4 / Theoretical Framework --- p.p.5-25 / The Habermasian public sphere / Chapter ■ --- Universal access / Chapter ■ --- Topics of public concern / Chapter ■ --- Rational discussion / Gatekeeping in production / Chapter ■ --- Individual gatekeeping / Chapter ■ --- Organizational gatekeeping / Chapter ■ --- Impact of commercialization / Phone-in Programs as Media Public Spheres --- p.p.26-46 / Factors for developing public sphere / Chapter ■ --- Capitalism / Chapter ■ --- Freedom of expression / Media and political communication in Hong Kong / Political and social contexts of radio phone-in programs / Chapter ■ --- Period of germination / Chapter ■ --- Period of recognition / Chapter ■ --- Period of flourishing / Three radio phone-in programs in Hong Kong / Chapter ■ --- RTHK's Talkabout / Chapter ■ --- Commercial Radio's Teacup in a Storm / Chapter ■ --- Metro Radio's Metropolitics / Methodology --- p.p.47-55 / Data collection / Chapter ■ --- The Robert Chung case / Data analysis / Chapter ■ --- Content analysis / Chapter ■ --- Discourse analysis / Analysis I - Universal Access --- p.p.56-76 / Technologies enhance accessibility / Equal opportunity for callers / Selecting calls / Chapter ■ --- Screening in Talkabout / Chapter ■ --- Screening in Teacup in a Storm / Chapter ■ --- Screening in Metropolitics / What is universal access? / Analysis II - Topics of Public Concern --- p.p.77-96 / Topics initiated by the public / Handling of topics initiated by the public / Characteristics of pre-set discussion topics / Chapter ■ --- Characteristics of discussion topics in Talkabout / Chapter ■ --- Characteristics of discussion topics in Teacup in a Storm / Chapter ■ --- Characteristics of discussion topics in Metropolitics / Who sets the media agenda? / Analysis III - Rational Discussion --- p.P. 97 -114 / Opinions with grounds / Discourse analysis of discussion on the Robert Chung case / Chapter ■ --- Period of reticence / Chapter ■ --- Period of development / Chapter ■ --- Period of investigation / Chapter ■ --- Period of conclusion / What is rational discussion? / Conclusion and Discussion --- p.P.115-128 / Interpretations of three main criteria in the media public sphere / Organizational gatekeeping in the media public sphere / Chapter ■ --- Political economy of Talkabout / Chapter ■ --- Political economy of Teacup in a Storm / Chapter ■ --- Political economy of Metropolitics / One additional criterion 一 Pluralism / Reconsidering the media public sphere / Appendices --- p.P.129-151 / Bibliography --- p.P.152-158