Inspiring and Informing Citizens Online: A Media Richness Analysis of Varied Civic Education Modalities. Issue 5 (5th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brinker, David L.; Gastil, John; Richards, Robert C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer-mediated communication. Volume 20:Issue 5(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 504
• Page End: 519
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05
• Subjects: Democratic Deliberation -- Online Deliberation -- Interactivity -- Media Richness Theory -- Civic Engagement -- Political Communication; Telematics -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.20285
• DOI: 10.1111/jcc4.12128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-6101

Abstract

Abstract: Public deliberation on the Internet is a promising but unproven practice. Online deliberation can engage large numbers of citizens at relatively low cost, but it is unclear whether such programs have substantial civic impact. One factor in determining their effectiveness may be the communicative features of the online setting in which they occur. Within a Media Richness Theory framework, we conducted a quasiexperiment to assess the civic outcomes of interventions executed online by nonprofit organizations prior to the 2012 U.S. presidential election. The results assess the impact of these interventions on issue knowledge and civic attitudes. Comparisons of the interventions illustrate the importance of considering media richness online, and our discussion considers the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.