Category: International Communication Research Group

Hernando Rojas & Matthew Barnidge. (Summer 2014). “Hostile Media Perceptions, Presumed Media Influence, and Political Talk: Expanding the Corrective Action Hypothesis.” International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 26(2), 135-156. DOI: 10.1093/ijpor/edt032

Abstract: The corrective action hypothesis predicts that hostile media perceptions and presumed media influence will be positively related to expressive political behaviors. According to this hypothesis, the presumed influence of biased media makes people attempt to “correct” perceived “wrongs” by voicing their own opinions in the public sphere. This study predicts that people with higher levels of hostile media perceptions and presumed media influence will talk politics more often and will seek out a wider array of viewpoints in political conversation. Analysis of survey data from a national representative sample of adults in Colombia largely supports these hypotheses, and also shows that presumed media influence mediates the relationship between hostile media perceptions and political talk diversity.

Source: http://go.wisc.edu/mma4s8

Hernando Rojas, Ben Sayre & Matthew Barnidge. (2014). “Perceptions of the Media and the Public and Their Effects on Political Participation in Colombia.” Mass Communication and Society, 17(5). DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2014.923463

Abstract: This study investigates whether perceptions of the media and the public are related to political participation in Colombia. Communication researchers have built a large body of literature on hostile media perceptions and the projection effect, respectively. This study links these perceptual effects with each other and with political participation. Analyzing survey data from a representative sample of Colombian adults in urban areas, we show a direct relationship between hostile media perceptions and participation, but no direct relationship between projection and participation. Hostile media perceptions and projection are negatively related. Results suggest that perceived media bias attenuates projection, but increases political engagement.

Source: http://go.wisc.edu/04p426

Wojcieszak, M. & Rojas, H. (2011).  Hostile public effect: Communication diversity and the projection of personal opinions onto others. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 55(4), 543-562.

Abstract: In the context of Colombia, a society with high levels of polarization, this study finds that the projection of individual ideological leanings onto others diminishes with ideological extremity. The findings also show that communication diversity, understood as heterogeneous discussion networks and exposure to ideologically dissimilar news media, is negatively related to projecting one’s leanings on public opinion at large. This study further suggests that expressive Internet uses do not predict projection, and that informational uses are associated with reduced projection. Moreover, dissimilar media exposure moderates the relationship between extremism and projection by further reducing projection among ideologically extreme respondents. Discussion heterogeneity does not exert a similar moderating effect. Implications for future research are discussed.

Source: http://go.wisc.edu/0j6cm5