My My Vox Populi

Vox Pop or Vox Populi is a latin phrase meaning "Voice of the People".

These days it is a little more specific. A vox pop is when a member of the public is asked to give an opinion of something by a TV or radio interviewer. The public are usually unaware of what questions they will be asked so they are put on the spot. By doing it in this manner, it means the interviewer will get a wide variety of opinions which are usually short and straight to the point.

On television vox pops are used in a number of different ways. In the news it helps members of the public voice their opinions or concerns about particular stories. In this clip, a reporter has gone around the town of Mansfield to ask the residents what they think of the town and the fact it was voted 9th worst place to live in Britain.



Vox pops do not always have to be concerned with the news. In this clip from BBC Radio 1 a series of vox pops were gathered for comedy and entertainment purposes. As before, the interviewer went out and asked the general public a question but this time they chose to use the most responses and opinions in a facetious manner.