Do Targets React and Third Parties Comment? Responsiveness and Scope Expansion in Television News Reports of Protest Demonstrations

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Most of the interaction between movements and elites nowadays takes place in the media arena. This study deals with reactions of political targets (responsiveness) and third parties (scope expansion) in news reports on protest events. It asks whether targets and third parties respond to protest, how they respond, and when they are more likely to respond. Data spanning eight years of protest coverage of both the Belgian public and commercial broadcaster (N=564) is used to test hypotheses drawn from journalism and protest impact literature. Results show that protestor voices dominate protest coverage, that political targets are more prominent than third parties, and that accounts of targets more frequently contain negative elements compared to accounts of third parties. Demonstrations that are large, reactive, not staged by unions and which have a domestic and specific target are more likely to trigger responsiveness. Disruptive demonstrations have no consistent impact on responsiveness whatsoever, yet trigger negative third party reactions.Results are discussed in light of protest impact and political communication literature.

Author

• Ruud J. Wouters, U of Antwerp