Abstract
Research objectives: Experiment examined how the use of animation in news influences viewers’ emotions in a way that bears on policy support. This study contributed to the literature by examining the impact of animation, as an emerging news presentation format, on viewers’ affective response and on policy support. It was also the first study to investigate the mediation paths from animated news content to policy support via emotions, while past studies mainly focus on the cognitive effect of animated news.
Theoretical Framework: Past studies found that films, TV shows, and news coverage have ability to elicit emotions. For example, Mauss, et al. (2005) suggest that media induces emotional response coherent with the context. Past research found that individual experiences a greater sense of involvement in a vivid message, and in turn elicits different emotions coherent with the context. Animation in news involved multiple sensory components and these components contributed to the vividness of the message and in turn enhanced the viewer’s experience of involvement. This study therefore proposes that the use of animation in news heightens level of emotions, anger in this case, that coherent with the context. Hence, the hypothesis as follows:
H1: Audience report feeling a greater intensity of anger when watching a news video with animation than when watching a video without animation. Emotions tell what situation it is and help individuals to determine their action, and affects people’s motivation and goals. For example, anger can inform an individual about fairness of the situations and raise the level of cognition of retributive actions. It increases the motives for an individual to revenge. At the same time, emotions help an individual to appraise their situations and make decision. Negative emotions influence the perception of injustice and discrimination. Individuals could feel sad and angry if they found the vulnerable group suffers from unfair treatment or in undesirable conditions. It may lead to greater empathy towards the vulnerable group, and generate greater support of policy that is favorable towards vulnerable group (Goodall, Slater & Myers, 2013)
H2: Level of anger is positively related with the level of policy support: enforcing the law that is favorable towards vulnerable group.
Methodology and Findings: Eighty participants were recruited in this study, and they were randomly assigned to view one of the designed news videos: those that use a animation, and those that do not use animation. We found that animated news induced audience emotions, which influenced policy preferences. H1 and H2 were supported. Practical uses of animation in news and related ethical issues were discussed.
Theoretical Framework: Past studies found that films, TV shows, and news coverage have ability to elicit emotions. For example, Mauss, et al. (2005) suggest that media induces emotional response coherent with the context. Past research found that individual experiences a greater sense of involvement in a vivid message, and in turn elicits different emotions coherent with the context. Animation in news involved multiple sensory components and these components contributed to the vividness of the message and in turn enhanced the viewer’s experience of involvement. This study therefore proposes that the use of animation in news heightens level of emotions, anger in this case, that coherent with the context. Hence, the hypothesis as follows:
H1: Audience report feeling a greater intensity of anger when watching a news video with animation than when watching a video without animation. Emotions tell what situation it is and help individuals to determine their action, and affects people’s motivation and goals. For example, anger can inform an individual about fairness of the situations and raise the level of cognition of retributive actions. It increases the motives for an individual to revenge. At the same time, emotions help an individual to appraise their situations and make decision. Negative emotions influence the perception of injustice and discrimination. Individuals could feel sad and angry if they found the vulnerable group suffers from unfair treatment or in undesirable conditions. It may lead to greater empathy towards the vulnerable group, and generate greater support of policy that is favorable towards vulnerable group (Goodall, Slater & Myers, 2013)
H2: Level of anger is positively related with the level of policy support: enforcing the law that is favorable towards vulnerable group.
Methodology and Findings: Eighty participants were recruited in this study, and they were randomly assigned to view one of the designed news videos: those that use a animation, and those that do not use animation. We found that animated news induced audience emotions, which influenced policy preferences. H1 and H2 were supported. Practical uses of animation in news and related ethical issues were discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 8 Jul 2019 |
| Event | International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference (IAMCR 2019) - Communication, Technology, and Human Dignity: Disputed Rights, Contested Truths - Universidad Complutense De Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain Duration: 7 Jul 2019 → 11 Jul 2019 https://madrid2019.iamcr.org/iamcr.org/madrid2019.html https://madrid2019.iamcr.org/iamcr.org/madrid2019/pdf-final-programme-online.html |
Conference
| Conference | International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference (IAMCR 2019) - Communication, Technology, and Human Dignity: Disputed Rights, Contested Truths |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Spain |
| City | Madrid |
| Period | 7/07/19 → 11/07/19 |
| Internet address |