Functional role of commentators throughout the process of orienting public opinion and message in television

Talk-show method defined as ?question and answer? is frequently used in news programs types. In current study, the concept of commentator, among people involved in news programs, was questioned. The term commentator which is used for different applications in the literature, is defined as commentator (a person who announces and comments on news concurrently) in the study. In current study, evaluations were made on the sample comprising of commentators who were employed in program broadcasted in 2010-2011 period in national television channels in Turkey. The aims of the study are to define commentators as a person, determine the subjects that they make decision on, clarify their function throughout the process of creating messages to inform and orient public opinion. In the study, qualitative research method was used. Interviews were analyzed by using descriptive analysis method in N-Vivo software package programme. As a conclusion, it was founded that commentators have responsibility to inform public and they tend to give messages about the subjects and conditions which they personally value and on the topics of which concern the society.