Public Broadcasting, Inadvertent News Exposure and Political Learning : An Empirical Test Using Panel Data

• The present study puts the role for political learning of public service broadcasting to a thorough empirical test.Previous research has found that public service-oriented media systems promote a better-informed citizenry andnarrow knowledge gaps between citizens. This research was based on cross-sectional aggregate measures of mediacontent and/or survey data, however. To investigate how public service television influences political learning amongless interested and motivated citizens, we use a unique four-wave panel survey. These data enable a close analysis ofknowledge gains as a consequence of media exposure throughout an election campaign (N=4,010). We find thatcitizens with a weak relative political interest – i.e. who prefer entertainment over politics – learn substantially aboutpolitics and current affairs from watching public service television channels. The implications of our findings for thefunctioning of democratic systems and the role played by the media are discussed.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Medievetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Media Studies (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

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