Author(s)

Timothy SongFollow

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Department

Political Science

Major

Political Science

Abstract

In an age of divided media, levels of affective polarization, or personal dislike and preference against members of a different political affiliation, appear to have grown. Using a survey experiment, I examine the extent to which biased news media can inflame levels of affective polarization, and to what extent balanced news media can reduce affective polarization in audience members. I also examine the political and academic implications of my findings that affective polarization is present in even the youngest of American voters, and that balanced news coverage is able to somewhat mitigate rates of affective polarization.

Faculty Mentor

Brian Newman

Presentation Session

Session B

Start Date

23-4-2021 3:00 PM

End Date

23-4-2021 3:15 PM

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Apr 23rd, 3:00 PM Apr 23rd, 3:15 PM

The Effects of News Media Bias on Affective Polarization

In an age of divided media, levels of affective polarization, or personal dislike and preference against members of a different political affiliation, appear to have grown. Using a survey experiment, I examine the extent to which biased news media can inflame levels of affective polarization, and to what extent balanced news media can reduce affective polarization in audience members. I also examine the political and academic implications of my findings that affective polarization is present in even the youngest of American voters, and that balanced news coverage is able to somewhat mitigate rates of affective polarization.