The Director of the University of Queensland’s Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, Professor Graeme Turner has embarked on a three-year research project into talkback radio.

So far his research has confirmed that most talkback radio listeners are over 50, Australian-born, working class and right wing.

Turner says: “For many years it was assumed that radio was declining in importance. Nobody thinks that any more. Everyone recognises the tremendous influence talkback has.”

Turner is a former presenter on community radio in Perth.