How Partisan Cable News Mobilizes Viewers: Partisan Media, Discussion Networks and Political Participation

ABSTRACT

Integrating the extant research on partisan selective exposure, discussion networks and communication mediation model, this survey study (N = 1,203) tests the relationship between proattitudinal partisan media use (Fox News, MSNBC) and discussion networks (like-minded, cross-cutting) in the context of political participation. My results find evidence of asymmetrical relationships, such that Republicans watching Fox News are more likely to participate in politics through like-minded discussion, while MSNBC use is more likely to mobilize viewers directly. This study advances our understanding of the effects of partisan media use and discussion networks on political participation in the era of partisan polarization.

Disclosure Statement

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

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Heesook Choi

Heesook Choi (Ph.D. University of Missouri-Columbia) is an Assistant Professor of Journalism at Mississippi State University. Her research interests include audience selectivity in media consumption in the high-choice media environment, specifically related to political and civic effects of news media, political entertainment programming and new communication technologies.