Tracking the Relationship Between Media Literacy and Political Participation Across Different Generations

Bibliographic Data

ID22307698
AuthorsDina Vozab (0000-0001-8718-2553, Fakultet političkih znanosti, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume53
Issue2
Pages271-298
Publication date2023-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRevija za sociologiju (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0350-154X • E-ISSN: 1846-7954
PublisherCroatian Sociological Association (PUBLISHER • HR)
DOI10.5613/rzs.53.2.4
OpenAlexW4387783901
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited18

Many scholars argue that media literacy is crucial for the development of citizenship and political engagement, especially in the digital environment. While a positive relationship between news consumption and political participation has long been established, we still lack sufficient knowledge on how media literacy influences political participation. Studies about the connection between media literacy and political engagement do not point to a clear relationship between the two. Most studies on media literacy and participation focus on young media users, overlooking generational differences in news consumption. Moreover, studies should also acknowledge the expanding repertoires of political participation in a digitally networked environment. This study uses a news media literacy (NML) scale and an extended political participation scale to analyse the relationship between media literacy and different dimensions of political participation, taking into account generational differences among news audiences. Data from the survey on media literacy is used, and regression analysis is used to assess the relationship between media literacy and political participation. The results are not unequivocally in line with the normative understanding of the relationship between media literacy and civic engagement. Although media literacy education programmes have a positive impact on some forms of political participation, there is no significant relationship between news media literacy and political participation. There is also a generational gap in news media literacy and political participation. The results call for further validation of the NML scale and research of inequalities in news media literacy

Geography · Literacy · Media consumption · Media literacy · Media studies · News media · Pedagogy · Political communication · Political efficacy · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Child Development and Digital Technology · Literacy, Media, and Education · Social Media and Politics

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Open DOIOpen Access