Frame Adoption in Referendum Campaigns

The Effect of News Coverage on the Public Salience of Issue Interpretations

Bibliographic Data

ID3756632
AuthorsMargrit Wettstein (0000-0001-9039-6093, University of Zurich, corresponding author), Martin Wettstein (University of Zurich)
Year2012
Volume56
Issue3
Pages318-333
Publication date2012-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764211426328
OpenAlexW2094290735
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited28

Answering the call for nonexperimental framing effects research, this article analyzes the effects of news frames on citizens' political cognitions using data derived from a campaign on the naturalization of immigrants. A content analysis of TV and newspaper coverage was combined at the individual level with answers to open- and closed-ended panel survey questions. The results largely confirm prior experimental framing effects research. Media frames had a strong impact on their public salience. Prior to the campaign, however, audience members interpreted the issue in different ways. Individual media exposure was found to affect frame adoption for all respondents (and all frames investigated), irrespective of the initial attitudes of respondents and the frames' origin. The implications of these findings for experimental and nonexperimental framing effects research are discussed

Advertising · Business · Citizenship · Framing (construction) · Framing effect · Geography · Immigration · Media studies · Naturalization · Newspaper · Persuasion · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Public relations · Referendum · Salience (neuroscience) · Sociology · Tourism · Media Influence and Health · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology

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