Guardian Australia launches new podcast, explores voter sentiment
Guardian Australia has launched new podcast Common Ground.
The announcement:
The podcast, co-produced with 2SER 107.3, brings together four Australians of different ages and with different life experiences and political leanings to find out if they can find common ground on hot-button issues including immigration, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, energy transition and inequality.
Common Ground is hosted by social researcher and author Rebecca Huntley and introduced by Guardian Australia’s editor, Lenore Taylor. It aims to remove the filters and listen directly to voters’ views about politics.
The podcast captures a weekly phone conversation between Rebecca and participants Steve (34), Sharon (51), Josh (18) and Katrina (70), who represent a cross-section of politics from Cory Bernadi’s Australian Conservatives party, to the Greens and the two major parties. The participants live in cities, regional towns and rural areas.
Lenore Taylor, editor, Guardian Australia, said:
“Often we hear politicians say the things that unite us are bigger than what divides us, but is that true? Common Ground is an attempt to listen to Australians’ political views and thoughts about the big issues.”
Rebecca Huntley, social researcher and author, said:
“Common Ground is like a reality focus group, you get to know the participants and understand how their background and life experiences inform their opinions. Often those you least expect agree or disagree.”
Melanie Withnall, managing director, 2SER 107.3, said:
Common Ground provides the opportunity to hear the voices of real voters, giving you insights that you don’t get from a poll, or comments on social media.”
The first of four episodes of Common Ground discusses the group’s attitude towards Australia’s political system and the one thing they would tell a politician about their life if they could.
Common Ground will be available to listen to from the Guardian’s podcast section, Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, other podcast services and will be broadcast on 2SER 107.3fm in Sydney at 7:30 on Monday evening.
Guardian Australia also produces two regular series: our politics podcast, Australian politics live with Katharine Murphy and Guardian Australia’s political team in Canberra, and Behind the Lines, a look behind the scenes at the Guardian Australia newsroom.
Source: Guardian Australia
