Not All News Sources Are Equally Informative: A Cross-National Analysis of Political Knowledge in Europe. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraile, Marta; Iyengar, Shanto
• Is Part Of: International journal of press/politics. Volume 19:Number 3(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: media effects -- media contents -- political knowledge -- knowledge gaps -- Western Europe; Press and politics -- Periodicals; Government and the press -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; 070.449324
• DOI: 10.1177/1940161214528993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1940-1612

Abstract

Across a sample of twenty-seven European nations, we examine variation in the level of factual political knowledge in relation to self-reported exposure to news programs aired by public or commercial channels, and to broadsheet or tabloid newspapers. Unlike previous studies, we estimate the effects of exposure to these news outlets while controlling for self-selection into the audience. Our results show that the positive effects of exposure to broadsheets and public broadcasting on knowledge remain robust. Finally, we show that only exposure to broadsheets (and not to public broadcasting) narrows the knowledge gap within nations; relatively apathetic individuals who read broadsheet newspapers are able to "catch up" with their more attentive counterparts.