The Social-Cultural Frameworks Embedded in Saudi Podcasts: A Case Study of “Fingan” Podcast.

Abstract

This study aims to identify the cultural and social themes presented in Saudi podcast programs. To achieve this goal, the study employed the Media Framing Theory, which serves as an appropriate framework for understanding the cultural and social characteristics and themes in Saudi podcasts. The study followed a qualitative approach, utilizing content analysis as a tool for examining a sample of 22 episodes from the podcast “Finjan”. These episodes, covering the period between 2018 and 2024, addressed various cultural and social issues within the community, with the goal of gaining a comprehensive and general understanding of the main frameworks through which the issues under investigation are framed. The results of the study revealed that the cultural and social topics addressed by the podcast can be categorized into four main frameworks: (1) Culture, which encompasses subtopics such as customs and traditions, arts, heritage, language, and religion; (2) Globalization, covering aspects like modernity, Western culture, and individualism; (3) Relationships, which includes both intimate and public/social relationships; and (4) Contemporary Issues, addressing topics such as ethical dilemmas, mental health disorders, artificial intelligence, and professional concerns. Based on these findings, the study suggests that future research should combine both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to provide a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the research problem. The media framing theory employed in this study could also be applied to other issues, such as political and economic topics, within the context of Saudi podcasts.