Selective Exposure to Cable News and Immigration in the U.S. The Relationship Between FOX News, CNN, and Attitudes Toward Mexican Immigrants

Homero Gil de Zúñiga, Teresa Correa, Sebastian Valenzuela

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the past 2 decades, cable television and the Internet have greatly increased the availability of media content. The phenomenon has reinvigorated a longstanding debate about the effects of this media landscape, as people selectively get exposed to specific content. Based on U.S. national survey data, this article advances research in this area by analyzing the interplay between individuals' ideological predispositions, their selective exposure to cable news, and the relationship between selective exposure and their attitudes toward an issue with key policy-making implications: Mexican immigration. Results indicate conservative Republicans are more likely to watch FOX News, which is associated with negative perceptions of Mexican immigrants and higher support for restrictive immigration policies. Findings also suggest that liberals who get exposed to FOX News also show less support for Mexican immigration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)597-615
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
Volume56
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Communication

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