Bad News, Declining Trust? Effects of Exposure to Economic News on Trust in the European Union. (21st July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brosius, Anna; van Elsas, Erika J; de Vreese, Claes H
• Is Part Of: International journal of public opinion research. Volume 32:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 242
• Publication Date: 2019-07-21
• Subjects: Public opinion -- Addresses, essays, lectures -- Periodicals; 303.38
• DOI: 10.1093/ijpor/edz025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-2892

Abstract

Abstract: Evaluations of the economy are often assumed to be at the heart of citizens' support for political systems. Despite being a vital source of information, we know little about how economic news coverage influences political support. The present study investigates how exposure to economic news coverage impacts trust in the European Union (EU), using a combination of automated content analysis data and nine-wave panel survey data between 2007 and 2016. We find that respondents exposed to more EU economic news lose confidence in the economy and trust in the EU. Yet, while exposure to negative EU economic news negatively affects economic confidence, it has a positive effect on trust in the EU. The opposite is the case for positive coverage.