The last refuge of media persuasion: News use, nationalism, and political trust in China

Fei Chris Shen, Zhongshi Guo

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

This study examines theoretical connections among three variables, each in its own way engendering profound political implications for the Chinese society today: news use, nationalism, and political trust. We focused on the impact of “positivity bias in news” and advanced a conceptual model on the basis of framing theory to address the dynamics of propaganda and its real and potential persuasive effects. Using data from the World Value Survey, we found: a) news use in general, television news viewing in particular, was positively associated with political trust and nationalism; b) impact of news use on political trust disappeared once nationalism was statistically controlled; and c) intensity of nationalism moderated the bivariate relationship between news use and political trust. The effect of party propaganda intended to consolidate political trust in China was contingent upon both one’s affective ties to the state and the form of news media regularly consumed.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 28 May 2011
EventICA 2011 - 61st Annual International Communication Association Conference: Communication @ the Center - Boston, United States
Duration: 26 May 201130 May 2011
https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ica/ica11/

Conference

ConferenceICA 2011 - 61st Annual International Communication Association Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period26/05/1130/05/11
Internet address

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The last refuge of media persuasion: News use, nationalism, and political trust in China'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this