News coverage has a powerful influence on how people think about social issues and events. For example, after a terrorist attack, news organizations often broadcast graphic footage of the event, including scenes of smoke and debris. As a result, viewers may have heightened anxiety and increased heart rates – effects that can last long after the news has ended.
News also shapes public perceptions about government policies and politicians. For instance, the media’s agenda-setting effect on presidential candidates has been well established. The media may choose which candidate to feature in a horse race, and their coverage of candidates’ positions and credentials may determine whether or not that candidate will win the election. The media’s role in the broader political process has less been studied, though studies suggest that the media may affect how people perceive congressional policies and politicians.
Framing can have a powerful effect on how people view issues, such as poverty or racial tensions. For example, when a story frames a protest as a ‘riot’ rather than a ‘demonstration’ it can change how audiences interpret the content.
Studies have shown that news coverage can shape perceptions of social problems and social safety net programs, influencing the public’s opinion of how the problem should be solved. However, little research has been done on how journalists make choices about what to cover and why. When the public doesn’t know how news selection decisions are made, they can assume all sorts of things about the motivations and criteria of journalists.
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