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Why is citizens' support for political actors and institutions declining? Recent research suggests that voter cynicism is fueled by the manner in which mass media covers political events and issues. This dissertation provides evidence regarding the impact that media coverage of political decision-making procedures has on an audience's political support. It focuses on the role of individual expectations and preferences of the audience. Empirically-standardized online surveys, an experimental study, and a comprehensive content analysis of news coverage were conducted for this study. It shows that mass media may contribute to a decrease of political support by shaping the perception of political processes. In addition, the findings suggest that the media's impact on political support was particularly strong if media coverage shapes the impression that political processes do not match individual preferences. This book contributes to a differentiation of the rather general claim that negative or critical media information results in a decline of political support.

Why is citizens' support for political actors and institutions declining? Recent research suggests that voter cynicism is fueled by the manner in which mass media covers political events and issues. This dissertation provides evidence regarding the impact that media coverage of political decision-making procedures has on an audience's political support. It focuses on the role of individual expectations and preferences of the audience. Empirically-standardized online surveys, an experimental study, and a comprehensive content analysis of news coverage were conducted for this study. It shows that mass media may contribute to a decrease of political support by shaping the perception of political processes. In addition, the findings suggest that the media's impact on political support was particularly strong if media coverage shapes the impression that political processes do not match individual preferences. This book contributes to a differentiation of the rather general claim that negative or critical media information results in a decline of political support.

Warum sinkt das Vertrauen der Bürger in die Politik? Aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zeigen, dass die Art und Weise wie Medien über politische Ereignisse und Themen berichten zur politischen Malaise beiträgt. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert wichtige Befunde zum Einfluss der Medienberichterstattung über politische Entscheidungsprozesse auf politisches Vertrauen. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die Rolle individueller Erwartungen und Ansprüche der Bürger an politische Prozesse.Empirisch wurden Online-Befragungen, eine experimentelle Studie sowie eine Inhaltsanalyse der Berichterstattung durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass Medien die Wahrnehmung politischer Prozesses prägen und dadurch das politische Vertrauen der Bürger schwächen können. Dabei zeigte sich: Vor allem dann, wenn die Medienberichterstattung den Eindruck erweckt, dass die tatsächlichen Entscheidungsprozesse nicht den eigenen Vorstellungen entsprechen, sinkt das politische Vertrauen.Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit leisten einen Beitrag zur Spezifizierung der Bedingungen, unter denen Medienberichterstattung das Vertrauen der Bürger in die Institutionen und Akteure einer Demokratie schwächen kann