Anti-media expression by citizens: conservative summary sites, hostile media perceptions, and media trust in Japan

ABSTRACT

This study adopts a populism communication framework to examine the influences of conservative summary site use on trust in mainstream news organizations. Data from two-wave panel surveys show that reading conservative summary sites is positively related to hostile media perceptions. Hostile media perceptions are negatively related to trust in several Japanese news organizations. The association between conservative summary site use and hostile media perception is not dependent on information processing strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Alternative media
• media trust
• hostile media perceptions
• information processing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Hoso Bunka Foundation, Japan.

Notes on contributors

Masahiro Yamamoto

Masahiro Yamamoto (Ph.D., Washington State University, 2012) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University at Albany, State University of New York. His research interests include media trust, political communication, and media effects.

Hyerim Jo

Hyerim Jo (M.A., Korea University, 2011) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Using quantitative research methods including text mining, her research focuses on the media presentation of and public discourse on political, health, and science-related topics and their effects.

Weina Ran

Weina Ran (Ph.D., Washington State University, 2014) is a lecturer in the Department of Communication and Media at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her research interests include media multitasking, media effects on public health, and entertainment education.