Political Events in a Partisan Media Ecology: Asymmetric Influence on Candidate Appraisals. Issue 2 (4th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suk, Jiyoun; Shah, Dhavan V.; Bode, Leticia; Edgerly, Stephanie; Thorson, Kjerstin; Vraga, Emily; Wells, Chris; Pevehouse, Jon
• Is Part Of: Mass communication & society. Volume 26:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2023-03-04
• Subjects: Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Communication -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication and culture -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Médias -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Médias et culture -- Périodiques; Communication -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication et culture -- Périodiques; Presse -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication and culture; Communication -- Social aspects; Journalism -- Social aspects; Mass media and culture; Mass media -- Social aspects; Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2022.2035766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-5436

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Political campaigns often feature jarring revelations against candidates. This study examines how audiences come to understand major campaign events, the extent to which they shape evaluations of candidates, and how their impact is filtered through an increasingly partisan news media environment. Using national rolling cross-sectional survey data collected over the 2016 U.S. presidential election period, we show partisan asymmetries in the way major campaign events influenced candidate appraisals. Event effects during the 2016 campaign were dependent on various media use patterns and concentrated among Independents. In particular, the reopening of the investigation into Clinton's email server by James Comey reduced her favorability, especially when paired with liberal and conservative partisan media use. By providing a nuanced picture of partisan selective exposure and campaign effects, our findings reinforce that the role of campaigns in candidate appraisals should be understood at the intersection of media use, partisanship, and specific events during a contentious race.