A Tale of Two News: The Impact of Media Outlets on Consumption Choices

Juan Carlos Angulo and Aldo Gutierrez-Mendieta
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Aldo Gutierrez-Mendieta: School of Social Sciences and Government, Tecnologico de Monterrey

Working Paper Series Sobre México from Sobre México. Temas en economía

Abstract: How does exposure to multiple, sometimes conflicting, news stories influence individuals’ consumption choices? We address this question through a survey experiment in which participants are randomly assigned to receive one or two news headlines related to avocado consumption.These vignettes present either a positive framing (health benefits) or negative consequences, such as environmental damage or links to organized crime. After each exposure, we measure participants’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a standard product using a contingent valuation method. Our findings show that the content and emotional framing of information matter more than the number of exposures. The strongest effect comes from conflict-related news, which significantly reduces WTP. When participants receive two headlines, the second exposure tends to drive the response, especially in cases with conflicting information. Overall, these results suggest that consumers react not only to the presence of information but also to how it is framed. Even when the product remains unchanged, the tone and content of the message influence economic decisions in subtle but measurable ways.

JEL-codes: D83 D91 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09-17
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