Comparative determinants of horse-race coverage. (17th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banducci, Susan; Hanretty, Chris
• Is Part Of: European political science review. Volume 6:Number 4(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 621
• Page End: 640
• Publication Date: 2014-01-17
• Subjects: opinion polls, -- media systems, -- election coverage; Politics, Practical -- Europe -- Periodicals; European Union countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.09405
• DOI: 10.1017/S1755773913000271
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-7739

Abstract

Abstract : We investigate the levels of horse-race coverage in 160 different European print and broadcast outlets in 27 different countries at three different points in time. We match information on outlets' content to survey-based information on the average levels of interest in politics and education of outlets' audiences. We formulate hypotheses concerning journalists' and citizens' preferences over the ideal level of horse-race coverage, as well as hypotheses concerning the information content of horse-race coverage in different party systems. After controlling for the composition of each outlet's audience, we find that horse-race coverage is most frequent in polarized party systems with close electoral contests, and in large markets with professional journalists. These findings challenge the traditional view of horse-race journalism as a 'low-quality' form of news.