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Mass Media Effects: Mobilization or Media Malaise?

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  • NEWTON, KENNETH

Abstract

According to some, the modern mass media have a malign effect on modern democracy, tending to induce political apathy, alienation, cynicism and a loss of social capital – in a word, ‘mediamalaise’. Some theorists argue that this is the result of media content, others that it is the consequence of the form of the media, especially television. According to others, the mass media, in conjunction with rising educational levels, help to inform and mobilize people politically, making them more knowledgeable and understanding. This study investigates the mobilization and mediamalaise hypotheses, and finds little to support the latter. Reading a broadsheet newspaper regularly is strongly associated with mobilization, while watching a lot of television has a weaker association of the same kind. Tabloid newspapers and general television are not strongly associated with measures of mediamalaise. It seems to be the content of the media, rather than its form which is important.

Suggested Citation

  • Newton, Kenneth, 1999. "Mass Media Effects: Mobilization or Media Malaise?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(4), pages 577-599, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:29:y:1999:i:04:p:577-599_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Wen-Chun Chang, 2018. "Media Use and Satisfaction with Democracy: Testing the Role of Political Interest," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 999-1016, December.
    2. Shujia Hu & Runxi Zeng & Chengzhi Yi, 2019. "Media Use and Environmental Public Service Satisfaction—An Empirical Analysis Based on China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Bhavani Shankar & C. S. Srinivasan & Xavier Irz, 2008. "World Health Organization Dietary Norms: A Quantitative Evaluation of Potential Consumption Impacts in the United States, United Kingdom, and France," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 30(1), pages 151-175.
    4. Kern, Holger & Hainmueller, Jens, 2007. "Opium for the Masses: How Foreign Free Media Can Stabilize Authoritarian Regimes," MPRA Paper 2702, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Suzana Rodrigues & John Child, 2008. "The Development of Corporate Identity: A Political Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 885-911, July.
    6. Sigurd Hilmo Lundheim & Giuseppe Pellegrini-Masini & Christian A. Klöckner & Stefan Geiss, 2022. "Developing a Theoretical Framework to Explain the Social Acceptability of Wind Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-24, July.
    7. C. S. Srinivasan, 2007. "Food consumption impacts of adherence to dietary norms in the United States: a quantitative assessment," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 37(2‐3), pages 249-256, September.
    8. Alan Manning & Amar Shanghavi, 2014. "'American Idol' - 65 years of Admiration," CEP Discussion Papers dp1320, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    9. Balart, Pau & Casas, Agustin & Troumpounis, Orestis, 2022. "Technological change, campaign spending and polarization," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    10. Nigel Hardiman & Shelley Burgin & Jia Shao, 2020. "How Sharks and Shark–Human Interactions are Reported in Major Australian Newspapers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, March.

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