| This study investigated the hostile media effect, described as the tendency for partisans on both sides of an issue to see news coverage of that issue as biased against their point of view, and its potential to drive audiences to sources they see as friendly to their point of view. Past studies have tested for the hostile media effect by seeing whether groups on both sides of issues such as the Mideast conflict, the development of genetically modified foods, and abortion perceive bias in news coverage. This study tested for the hostile media effect among students who identified themselves as strong supporters or strong opponents of the war in Iraq and found that both groups saw bias in a news story related the war. Both groups (supporters at a higher level than opponents) showed a propensity for visiting news sources that are friendly toward their point of view when it comes to the war in Iraq. In a cable and Internet age where media choices abound, these findings demonstrate the potential for highly partisan audiences to sequester themselves in niche media that serve up news and information that aligns with their political leanings, which could have implications for democracy. |
