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The Legacy of Daytime Talk Shows Lives in Your Feed January 11, 2026
The talk shows never disappeared. Their conflict, confessions, and emotional manipulation became shareable spectacles on social media. Key Takeaways Talk shows turned emotional exposure into entertainment, but what was episodic is now continuous Algorithms replaced studio audiences and reward emotional intensity, not reflection or accuracy. Social media inherited “talk show” emotional logic and removed ethical […]
Pamela Rutledge
Oprah's High Road: Diverging Paths in Daytime Talk Shows January 10, 2026
Oprah Winfrey’s shift away from sensationalism reframed vulnerability and altered how audiences engaged with emotional storytelling. Key Takeaways Reframing Vulnerability to Reshaped Media Culture While many 1990s talk shows escalated conflict, one major figure moved in a different direction. Oprah Winfrey’s shift away from sensationalism reframed vulnerability in public life and altered how audiences engaged […]
Pamela Rutledge
Daytime Talk Shows: Why We Couldn’t Look Away January 10, 2026
The psychology behind the rise of 1990s daytime talk shows. Back in July 2025, I had the privilege of talking with Steve Morrison, the director and executive producer of a docuseries on daytime television, about the psychology behind the appeal and evolution of shows like Jerry Spring and Sally Jessy Raphael. The shows will air […]
Pamela Rutledge

Ubiquitous technology means we need a better understanding of:

- Digital and Transmedia Storytelling and constructing and sharing additive narratives across media channels
-Participatory and collaborative media
On-demand information access
-The use of technology to promote positive experiences through cognitive and emotional engagement: positive mood inducement, sense of self-efficacy, social connectedness
-Immersive Environments and new arenas for expression and social modeling of new attitudes, skills, social roles, and personal identity
-Human relationships mediated by technology
-Tools and environments for learning across the lifespan
-Psychological, perceptual and cognitive aspects of using technology and understanding usability