Telepresence and the Exemplification Effects of Disaster News

Abstract

Exemplification theory (Zillmann, 1999, 2002; Zillmann & Brosius, 2000) suggests exemplar representations in media content may cause people to make overestimated judgments about phenomena included in this content. The current study sought to examine the role telepresence plays in increasing this exemplification effect. Two-hundred and seventeen participants viewed a news story about Hurricane Katrina using one of three channels: HDTV, NTSC, or on an iPod. Data were consistent with predictions as participants who experienced greater spatial presence and perceptual realism while watching this news story reported increased judgments of the severity of hurricanes and also reported a greater likelihood to engage in behaviors associated with hurricanes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• Crisis Communication
• Disaster News
• Exemplification
• Telepresence

This study was funded from the 2007 Federation Prize awarded by the Central States Communication Association.

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Westerman

David Westerman is in the Department of Communication Studies, West Virginia University.

Patric R. Spence

Patric R. Spence is in the School of Communication, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Kenneth A. Lachlan

Kenneth A. Lachlan is in the Sociology Department and Communication Studies Program, University of Massachusetts, Boston.