Pathways to News Sharing: Frames, News Article Perceptions and the Likelihood of Sharing

• In Event: News Exposure on Social Media

Abstract

Online news sharing has become an important component of how contemporary citizens experience news. While digital media accelerate the flow of information, there has been much concern over the quality of news information regarding political issues available online. This study offers empirical evidence regarding important article perceptions that drive online news sharing. By synthesizing literature on framing effects, perceived bias, and online expressive behaviors, we examine how issue frames, article perceptions, and political ideology work together to shape reader’s dissemination of news information. Using an online survey that exposes respondents to multiple news articles on the same issue, this study found that perceptions of issue frame believability, frame importance, article bias and article influence affected reader's willingness to share a news article. Moreover, these article perceptions are formed through the lens of one’s political ideology. Implications for online political participation and news exposure are discussed.

Authors

• Min-Hsin Su, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Jiawei Liu, U of Wisconsin-Madison

• Douglas M. McLeod, U of Wisconsin-Madison