Picture Power? The Contribution of Visuals and Text to Partisan Selective Exposure

Thomas E. Powell, Toni G. L. A. van der Meer and Carlos Brenes Peralta
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Thomas E. Powell: Amsterdam School of Communication Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Toni G. L. A. van der Meer: Amsterdam School of Communication Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Carlos Brenes Peralta: Centre for Political Science, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Media and Communication, 2019, vol. 7, issue 3, 12-31

Abstract: Today’s high-choice media environment allows citizens to select news in line with their political preferences and avoid content counter to their priors. So far, however, selective exposure research has exclusively studied news selection based on textual cues, ignoring the recent proliferation of visual media. This study aimed to identify the contribution of visuals alongside text in selective exposure to pro-attitudinal, counter-attitudinal and balanced content. Using two experiments, we created a social media-style newsfeed with news items comprising matching and non-matching images and headlines about the contested issues of immigration and gun control in the U.S. By comparing selection behavior of participants with opposing prior attitudes on these topics, we pulled apart the contribution of images and headlines to selective exposure. Findings show that headlines play a far greater role in guiding selection, with the influence of images being minimal. The additional influence of partisan source cues is also considered.

Keywords: balanced content; experimental research; image; selective exposure; text; visual communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:meanco:v7:y:2019:i:3:p:12-31

DOI: 10.17645/mac.v7i3.1991

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