Partisan Media Reporting on International Affairs

• In Event: Poster Session: Public Policy & Society, Extremism, and Democratic Backsliding
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Society, Extremism, and Democratic Backsliding

Abstract

We consider U.S. news media reporting on international affairs. Analyzing tens of millions of articles published in the last decade, we evaluate if there are reporting differences based on outlets' partisan leanings. In a survey with the general public, we then measure whether these discrepancies shape readers' opinions and knowledge of foreign issues. We find that left- and right-leaning news media tend to report disproportionately on several topics and that readers show congruent knowledge to their preferred outlets' bias. Findings raise questions about partisan influence and the extent to which reporting can shape American public opinion on international affairs.

Authors

• Andrew Shaver, University of California, Merced

• Leonardo Dantas, Princeton University

• Amarpreet Kaur