Papachrissi's explains the public sphere in the words of Jurgen Habermas as a forum separate from the public as it relates to opinion and assembly. She quotes on page 5, "Because, according to Habermas, the public sphere has been compromised to the point where its actual existence is in doubt, it is best understood as a metaphor for “a sphere which mediates between society and state in which the public organizes itself as the bearer of public opinion, accords with the principle of the public sphere – that principle of public information which once had to be fought for against the arcane politics of monarchies and which since that time has made possible the democratic control of state activities” (Habermas, 1973, p. 351)." Given this definition I see the public sphere as any communicative forum accessible to the general public (as audience as as speakers) that may include discourse surrounding local and national politics as well as social constructs such as businesses, sc...
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