Fourth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

It’s Showtime is a noon-hour show in the Philippines which has been watched by a large number of viewers and consistently ranks on the top 10 daytime shows. Miss Q and A is one of the segments on the show in which their tagline suggests that the segment will showcase the wits of the transgender candidates. Since media is a powerful tool in the representation of a group, how the segment presents the candidates will influence the perceptions of the viewers towards transgender people. This study primarily asks this inquiry: What are the discourses present on the segment Miss Q and A? Through the framework Critical Discourse Analysis by Norman Fairclough, the researchers aim to identify and analyze the sequence of the segment, the introductory statements of the candidates, and the discourses between the hosts and candidates in relation to power, dominance, and inequality. The researchers also used qualitative research design and Critical Discourse Analysis as its method. To gather the necessary data in the study, the researchers transcribed and analyzed the nineteen episodes of the segment Miss Q and A from April 2, 2018 to May 24, 2018. As a result, the researchers found out that power, dominance, and inequality was very evident on the segment Miss Q and A. It is recommended that future researchers study this topic and other gender-themed shows using Critical Discourse Analysis to begin addressing social wrongs associated that are being portrayed by the media with suggestions for correcting and mitigating them.