Framing Effects of Television News Coverage of Social Protest

TLDR

The study examined how television news framing of an anarchist protest influences viewers. The experiment presented three news stories varying in status‑quo support. Higher status‑quo support in the news stories made viewers more critical of protesters, less likely to identify with them, less critical of police, and less likely to support the protesters' expressive rights, while also reducing estimates of the protest’s effectiveness, public support, and newsworthiness, thereby confirming that status‑quo framing shapes audience perceptions.

Abstract

We investigated framing effects of television news coverage of an anarchist protest. Three treatment stories differed in their level of status quo support. Status quo support had significant effects on viewers, leading them to be more critical of, and less likely to identify with, the protesters; less critical of the police; and less likely to support the protesters' expressive rights. Status quo support also produced lower estimates of the protest's effectiveness, public support, and perceptions of newsworthiness. The results substantiate concerns about status quo support by showing that it can influence audience perceptions.