Videomalaise or Virtuous Circle? The Influence of the News Media on Political Trust

被引:94
作者
Avery, James M. [1 ]
机构
[1] Richard Stockton Coll, Pomona, NJ USA
关键词
media effects; political trust; news media; public opinion; GOVERNMENT; CAMPAIGN; TELEVISION; MALAISE; ISSUES;
D O I
10.1177/1940161209336224
中图分类号
G2 [信息与知识传播];
学科分类号
05 ; 0503 ;
摘要
Some scholars argue that exposure to news media has a negative effect on public trust in government, while others maintain that the relationship between media exposure and political trust is positive and reciprocal. The current study departs from most research in this area by focusing on how both news source and individual characteristics of news consumers moderate the influence of news exposure on political trust. Employing several panel studies from a survey specifically designed to investigate media use and campaign dynamics during the 2000 presidential election, the current study makes several novel contributions to the literature. Specifically, the author finds that the influence of news media on political trust-positive or negative-is dependent on both the news source (i.e., newspaper or television) and individuals' existing level of political trust. Those with low levels of political trust do not become more or less trusting following news exposure regardless of the news source. However, those with higher levels of political trust become more trusting following exposure to newspapers and less trusting following exposure to television news.
引用
收藏
页码:410 / 433
页数:24
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