Generating Political Interest with Online News
Communication and Information Technologies Annual
ISBN: 978-1-78441-454-2, eISBN: 978-1-78441-453-5
Publication date: 30 January 2015
Abstract
This paper examines whether new media can address low levels of political engagement among youth. This paper reports the results of an experiment conducted in 2010 and 2011 where a random sample of participants were exposed to a variety of online news sources. The experiment is unique in recognizing the varied ways in which online news is accessed and acquired by users, including through social networks, and in assessing how different news stories affect political interest. Interest in local politics was higher for youth who were exposed to a variety of online news sources as opposed to those youth who were not exposed to these sources. In addition, use of online news increased political interest, controlling for prior levels of political interest. The results affirm the potential of online news sources to stimulate youth’s interest and engagement in politics.
Keywords
Citation
Boulianne, S. (2015), "Generating Political Interest with Online News", Communication and Information Technologies Annual (Studies in Media and Communications, Vol. 9), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 53-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2050-206020150000009003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015 Emerald Group Publishing Limited