Framing Referendum Campaigns In The News: A Comprehensive Guide

Referendum campaigns are often fiercely contested, with both sides vying for public support. The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion during these campaigns, as the way that referendums are framed in the news can have a significant impact on the outcome.

This guide will provide you with a comprehensive overview of framing referendum campaigns in the news. We will discuss the different types of framing effects, the role of agenda setting and priming, and the impact of media coverage on public opinion and electoral outcomes.

There are three main types of framing effects:

Framing referendum campaigns in the news

by Bill Bradley

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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• Agenda setting: This refers to the ability of the media to influence the public's agenda by deciding which issues are covered and how they are covered.
• Priming: This refers to the ability of the media to influence the public's perception of the importance of different issues and attributes.
• Framing: This refers to the way that the media presents information about an issue, which can influence the public's perception of the issue and its potential solutions.

Agenda setting and priming are two important factors that can influence the way that referendum campaigns are framed in the news.

Agenda setting can influence the public's agenda by deciding which issues are covered and how they are covered. By giving more coverage to certain issues, the media can make those issues more salient in the public's mind. This can have a significant impact on public opinion, as people are more likely to support issues that they are aware of and that they perceive to be important.

Priming can influence the public's perception of the importance of different issues and attributes. By emphasizing certain aspects of an issue, the media can make those aspects more salient in the public's mind. This can influence the way that people think about the issue and its potential solutions.

Media coverage can have a significant impact on public opinion and electoral outcomes. Studies have shown that the way that referendum campaigns are framed in the news can influence the way that people think about the issues and their potential solutions. This can lead to changes in public opinion and, ultimately, electoral outcomes.

For example, a study by Iyengar and Kinder (1987) found that the way that the media covered the 1980 presidential election influenced the way that voters thought about the economy. Voters who were exposed to more coverage of the economy were more likely to believe that the economy was in a bad state and that the incumbent president deserved to lose. This suggests that the media's coverage of the economy may have played a role in the election's outcome.

The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion during referendum campaigns. The way that referendums are framed in the news can have a significant impact on the outcome of the campaign. By understanding the different types of framing effects, the role of agenda setting and priming, and the impact of media coverage on public opinion and electoral outcomes, you can better understand the role of the media in referendum campaigns.

Framing referendum campaigns in the news

by Bill Bradley

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14323 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	296 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Hardcover	:	184 pages
Item Weight	:	15.2 ounces
Dimensions	:	9.3 x 0.7 x 6.4 inches

FREE