Consumer Preferences regarding News Slant and Accuracy in News Program
消費者對新聞節目政治傾向與正確度之偏好
Journal
經濟論文叢刊
Journal Volume
45
Journal Issue
4
Pages
515—545
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
施琇涵
Abstract
We use weekly audience ratings data from different regions in Taiwan to investigate the role of news slant and news accuracy in consumers' choices of TV news programs in Taiwan. We find that news programs leaning toward the Pan-Blue parties have more viewers from areas with more Pan-Blue supporters. Moreover, we find that consumers are more politically segregated in choosing news programs during political events than on ordinary days. The finding cannot be explained by reverse causality and suggests that consumers are inclined to watch news programs with a political ideology that approximates their own. Regarding consumer preferences for news accuracy, we examine changes in viewership caused by two well-known false news scandals involving reports that provided erroneous information. We find that the effects of these two incidents were either small or insignificant.
Type
journal article