The effect of narrative news format on empathy for stigmatized groups

Mary Beth Oliver, James Price Dillard, Keunmin Bae, Daniel J. Tamul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

218 Scopus citations

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which news story format (narrative vs. non-narrative) can initiate empathic processes that produce more favorable evaluations of stigmatized groups. Participants (N = 399) read one of two versions of a story that described health care-related dilemmas for either immigrants, prisoners, or the elderly. Narrative-formatted stories produce more compassion toward the individuals in the story, more favorable attitudes toward the group, more beneficial behavioral intentions, and more information-seeking behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)205-224
Number of pages20
JournalJournalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
Volume89
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Communication

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