Reinforcing Spirals in Online and Traditional News Consumption. Testing Key Assumptions of Virtuous Circle Theory

• In Event: News Consumption and its Effects on Knowledge, Interest, and Trust

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the existence of reinforcing spirals between online and traditional news consumption and political engagement. Drawing on longitudinal data, a three-wave panel study, this article examined the Virtuous Circle Theory: whether news consumption affects citizens’ political engagement (media effects), or whether news consumption only activates those citizens who are already politically sophisticated (selection effects). Findings from this study lend strong support for the existence of reinforcing spirals between traditional news media and political interest and participation. Reciprocal influences were found between traditional news use and political interest and political participation. However, in the online environment, selection effects seem to dominate over media effects – and this is particularly evident for political interest. It seems that the online news is still not equipped to actually mobilize citizens, while traditional media succeeds at this.

Authors

• Sanne Kruikemeier, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR

• Adam Shehata, University of Gothenburg