When the Fourth Estate Becomes a Fifth Column: The Effect of Media Freedom and Social Tolerance on Domestic Conflict

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

Abstract

Media freedom is viewed as crucial to democracy based on the assumption that independent media will facilitate political competition. Yet, political leaders around the world—from Rwanda to Egypt to Venezuela to Hungary—have restricted media freedom, arguing that irresponsible news coverage will incite political violence. Is media freedom a force for democracy or a source of domestic conflict? We hypothesize that the effect of media freedom on domestic conflict is conditioned in part by a country’s level of social tolerance. Specifically, we predict when social tolerance is high, media freedom will discourage domestic conflict because the tone of news coverage will tend to mirror the level of tolerance in society and ameliorate any inflammatory coverage. In contrast, we predict that low levels of social tolerance will fuel and be fueled by inflammatory news coverage if the media are free, and that this combination will promote domestic conflict.

Authors

• Jenifer Whitten-Woodring, University of Massachusetts Lowell

• Marc Hutchison, U of Rhode Island

• Salvatore Schiano, University of Massachusetts Lowell