Overview

"Fox News, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Rush Limbaugh Show, National Public Radio--with so many options, where do people turn for news? In Niche News, Natalie Stroud investigates how people navigate these choices and the political implications that their choice ultimately entails. By combining an analysis of the various news formats that citizens rely on with innovative surveys and experiments, she offers the most comprehensive look to date at the extent to which partisanship influences our media selections. At the heart of Niche News is the concept of ""partisan selective exposure,"" a behavior that leads individuals to select news sources that match their own views. This phenomenon helps explain the political forces at work behind media consumption. Just as importantly, she finds that selective exposure also influences how average citizens engage with politics in general. On one hand, citizens may become increasingly divided as a result of using media that coheres with their political beliefs; on the other hand, partisan selective exposure may encourage participation. Ultimately, Stroud reveals just how intimately connected the mainstream media and the world of politics really are, a conclusion with significant implications for the practice of American democracy."

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9780199755516

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Reviews

Stroud makes a convincing argument that there are both positive and negative aspects to polarized political news reporting... Stroud's work points out the leanings by both ends of the political spectrum. She calls for a media landscape that includes both partisan and nonpartisan media. * CHOICE * Stroud makes a convincing argument that there are both positive and negative aspects to polarized political news reporting. Using primarily quantitative data, the author reveals how audiences use selective exposure, perception, and retention in their news-media choices and political arguments. * D. Caristi, Associate Professor of Telecommunications, Ball State University * Stroud's book offers an incisive and useful voice to the scholarly discussion about the extent and effects of partisan selectivity. She offers compelling evidence that partisan selectivity exists and is an important force in media politics. She also brings the path forward into focus. She opens her last chapter by noting, 'There are undoubtedly people who opt out of politics and avoid news media content altogether. And not everyone who seeks out political information from the media gravitates toward news sharing their political perspective' (p. 169). If we wish to come to grips with the seismic changes in media over the past decade, we must next tackle these aspects of the hyperchoice media environment. Thankfully, Stroud has made our work easier. * Kevin Arceneaux, Political Communiation * A previous generation of scholars concluded that the evidence for selective exposure was uncertain, but Niche News begs to differ. Using a compelling mix of experiments, surveys, and content analysis, Stroud confirms that political partisans increasingly tend to seek out information that comports with their beliefs. Selective exposure is back, and Niche News shows why it matters. * Scott L. Althaus, Associate Professor of Communication and Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign * American news media and their audiences were proudly partisan during the nation's first century. A long period of nonpartisan news followed. Stroud's richly documented study demonstrates that we have come full circle. An influential partisan press has been reborn, making it easy for audiences to select congenial news only. This intriguing and insightful book explains the profound consequences for the future of American democracy. It's message deserves serious attention. * Doris A. Graber, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois-Chicago *

<br> American news media and their audiences were proudly partisan during the nation's first century. A long period of nonpartisan news followed. Stroud's richly documented study demonstrates that we have come full circle. An influential partisan press has been reborn, making it easy for audiences to select congenial news only. This intriguing and insightful book explains the profound consequences for the future of American democracy. It's message deserves serious attention. --Doris A. Graber, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois-Chicago<p><br> A previous generation of scholars concluded that the evidence for selective exposure was uncertain, but Niche News begs to differ. Using a compelling mix of experiments, surveys, and content analysis, Stroud confirms that political partisans increasingly tend to seek out information that comports with their beliefs. Selective exposure is back, and Niche News shows why it matters. --Scott L. Althaus, Associate Professor of Commu

<br> American news media and their audiences were proudly partisan during the nation's first century. A long period of nonpartisan news followed. Stroud's richly documented study demonstrates that we have come full circle. An influential partisan press has been reborn, making it easy for audiences to select congenial news only. This intriguing and insightful book explains the profound consequences for the future of American democracy. It's message deserves serious attention. --Doris A. Graber, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois-Chicago<p><br> A previous generation of scholars concluded that the evidence for selective exposure was uncertain, but Niche News begs to differ. Using a compelling mix of experiments, surveys, and content analysis, Stroud confirms that political partisans increasingly tend to seek out information that comports with their beliefs. Selective exposure is back, and Niche News shows why it matters. --Scott L. Althaus, Associate Professor of Communication and Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign<p><br> Stroud's book offers an incisive and useful voice to the scholarly discussion about <br>the extent and effects of partisan selectivity. She offers compelling evidence that partisan <br>selectivity exists and is an important force in media politics. She also brings the path forward <br>into focus. She opens her last chapter by noting, There are undoubtedly people who <br>opt out of politics and avoid news media content altogether. And not everyone who seeks <br>out political information from the media gravitates toward news sharing their political perspective <br>(p. 169). If we wish to come to grips with the seismic changes in media over <br>the past decade, we must next tackle these aspects of the hyperchoice media environment. <br>Thankfully, Stroud has made our work easier. --Kevin Arceneaux, Political Communiation<p><br>

American news media and their audiences were proudly partisan during the nation's first century. A long period of nonpartisan news followed. Stroud's richly documented study demonstrates that we have come full circle. An influential partisan press has been reborn, making it easy for audiences to select congenial news only. This intriguing and insightful book explains the profound consequences for the future of American democracy. It's message deserves serious attention. --Doris A. Graber, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois-Chicago A previous generation of scholars concluded that the evidence for selective exposure was uncertain, but Niche News begs to differ. Using a compelling mix of experiments, surveys, and content analysis, Stroud confirms that political partisans increasingly tend to seek out information that comports with their beliefs. Selective exposure is back, and Niche News shows why it matters. --Scott L. Althaus, Associate Professor of Communication and Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Stroud's book offers an incisive and useful voice to the scholarly discussion about the extent and effects of partisan selectivity. She offers compelling evidence that partisan selectivity exists and is an important force in media politics. She also brings the path forward into focus. She opens her last chapter by noting, 'There are undoubtedly people who opt out of politics and avoid news media content altogether. And not everyone who seeks out political information from the media gravitates toward news sharing their political perspective' (p. 169). If we wish to come to grips with the seismic changes in media over the past decade, we must next tackle these aspects of the hyperchoice media environment. Thankfully, Stroud has made our work easier. --Kevin Arceneaux, Political Communiation Stroud makes a convincing argument that there are both positive and nega

Author Information

Natalie Jomini Stroud is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Assistant Director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation at the University of Texas-Austin.

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