Gently to hear, kindly to judge: the affective information practices of theatre professionals and journalists Untitled Publication

Introduction. This article examines the role of emotion in the information practices of members of theatre professionals and journalists. It draws on Foucault and critical discourse analysis to understand affective information practices in a new way: as a discursive construct: both the product and generator of power:knowledge relations. Methods. Both studies employed a combination of semi-structured and conversational interviewing. Analysis involved inductive critical discourse analysis of the interview transcripts, aided by the use of N-Vivo software and extensive use of the broader thematic writing techniques. Results. The essentially social nature of the participants? practices is highlighted, not only their heavy reliance on personal relationships but also the clear relationship between their sense-making and the social norms and accepted practices (discursive rules) that have developed in their professional communities. Social norms and practices govern not only participants? use of language and construction of ideas, but also how they act, speak and understand emotion. Conclusion. A construction of emotion as a discursive construct has important implications both for information research and for discourse analysis. The article offers a radically different conceptual lens through which researchers can study affect not in individual or acultural terms but as a social construct like language, both a product and a generator of power:knowledge