Effects of News Slant and Base Rate Information on Perceived Public Opinion

In: Journalism & mass communication quarterly: JMCQ, Band 76, Heft 2, S. 277-292

Abstract

This research examines the hypothesis that people infer public opinion by relying on their own subjective assessments of media content, such as perceived news slant, coupled with their own presumptions about the effects of such content on others. The hypothesis was tested with an experimental design manipulating story slant and base rate information for two issues. Results supported the persuasive press inference, even when content included base rate information contrary to story slant. However, there was some evidence that for some types of news stories the projection of personal opinion might diminish the direct effect of slant.