Media-driven polarization: Evidence from the US

The authors use US data on media coverage of politics and individual survey data to document that citizens exposed to more politicized newspapers have more extreme political preferences. This polarization effect of media is mainly driven by individuals who harbor liberal opinions reading more newspapers, as opposed to individuals endorsing rather conservative positions. More politicized media also reinforce other aspects of citizens' political sophistication such as political knowledge. This enhanced political sophistication materializes in observable involvement in politics, measured by campaign contributions.

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Year of publication:	2019
Authors:	Melki, Mickael ; Sekeris, Petros
Published in:	Economics: The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal. - Kiel : Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), ISSN 1864-6042. - Vol. 13.2019, 2019-34, p. 1-13
Publisher:	Kiel : Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)
Subject:	media \| ideological polarization \| political sophistication

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Type of publication:	Article
Type of publication (narrower categories):	Article
Language:	English
Other identifiers:	10.5018/economics-ejournal.ja.2019-34 [DOI] 1668297795 [GVK] hdl:10419/200106 [Handle] RePEc:zbw:ifweej:201934 [RePEc]
Classification:	K4 - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior ; H0 - Public Economics. General
Source:	EconStor

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10012023259