Testing the Attenuation of Protest Paradigm News Coverage Effects in the Presence of Prior Favorable Attitudes Toward a Cause

Abstract

This study explores the conditions under which the (adverse) effects of exposure to protest groups’ media portrayals are, in theory, attenuated. Two experiments manipulated the degree to which protest coverage adhered to the “protest paradigm.” One version presented the protesters as violent, unlawful, and disruptive; the other was more balanced. Group cause and news article’s source were also manipulated. Results from Study 1 showed that effects remained negative even when prior favorable attitudes toward the cause existed, with closely adherent coverage generally leading to more negative protester evaluations, lower levels of identification with protesters, and lower protest intention, often independent of participants’ prior attitudes. In contrast, Study 2 showed that the negative portrayals’ effects were rather inconsequential when participants’ ideology was considered.