Moderation from Bias: A Field Experiment on Partisan Media in a New Democracy.

Partisan media are often blamed for polarization in newly liberalized regimes. However, there is little empirical work on the subject, and information-processing theories suggest that extreme position taking is only one possible response to opinionated news. Rather, we theorize that partisan media m...

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Publicado en:Journal of Politics Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 575 - 588
Autores principales: Conroy-Krutz, Jeffrey, Moehler, Devra C.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: University of Chicago Press Apr2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2015
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        atl: Moderation from Bias: A Field Experiment on Partisan Media in a New Democracy.
      aug:
        au:
          Conroy-Krutz, Jeffrey
          Moehler, Devra C.
        affil:
          Michigan State University
          University of Pennsylvania
      su:
        Ghana
        New Patriotic Party (Political party : Ghana)
        National Democratic Congress (Ghana)
        Partisanship
        Mass media
        Public opinion
        Political attitudes
        Elections
        Prejudices
        Social history
        Public affairs radio programs
        Ghanaian politics & government
        Twenty-first century
      sug:
        subj:
          Partisanship
          Mass media
          Public opinion
          Political attitudes
          Elections
          Prejudices
          Social history
          Ghana
          New Patriotic Party (Political party : Ghana)
          National Democratic Congress (Ghana)
          Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
          Public affairs radio programs
          Ghanaian politics & government
          Twenty-first century
      ab: Partisan media are often blamed for polarization in newly liberalized regimes. However, there is little empirical work on the subject, and information-processing theories suggest that extreme position taking is only one possible response to opinionated news. Rather, we theorize that partisan media may cause moderation in postliberalization settings, because low political sophistication and shifting political landscapes discourage partisan-motivated reasoning. We conducted a field experiment in Ghana in which tro-tros (commuter minibuses) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Passengers heard live talk-radio from a progovernment, pro-opposition, or neutral station, or were in a no-radio control. We find no effect of like-minded media on polarization, but significant evidence of moderation from crosscutting broadcasts, indicating that rival arguments persuaded subjects. Partisan broadcasts also encouraged displays of national over partisan identity. Rather than fueling extremism, we argue that partisan media can moderate by exposing citizens to alternate perspectives.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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      src: R
    language: English
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