Media Bias and Influence: Evidence from Newspaper Endorsements

• Published in: The Review of economic studies Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 795 - 820
• Main Authors: CHIANG, CHUN-FANG, KNIGHT, BRIAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Review of Economic Studies Ltd., Blackwell Publishing 01.07.2011; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Bias; Decision making; Demand side economics; Econometrics; Economic models; Editorials; Endorsements; Media coverage; Media studies; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political economy; Press; Standard error; Studies; Voter behavior; Voters; Voting; Voting behavior; Voting behaviour; Voting intentions; Voting turnout; United States > US; Endorsements; Media bias; Voting; D70; D80
• ISSN: 0034-6527; 1467-937X
• DOI: 10.1093/restud/rdq037

This paper investigates the relationship between media bias and the influence of the media on voting in the context of newspaper endorsements. We first develop a simple econometric model in which voters choose candidates under uncertainty and rely on endorsements from better informed sources. Newspapers are potentially biased in favour of one of the candidates and voters thus rationally account for the credibility of any endorsements. Our primary empirical finding is that endorsements are influential in the sense that voters are more likely to support the recommended candidate after publication of the endorsement. The degree of this influence, however, depends upon the credibility of the endorsement. In this way, endorsements for the Democratic candidate from left-leaning newspapers are less influential than are endorsements from neutral or right-leaning newspapers and likewise for endorsements for the Republican. We also find that endorsements are more influential among moderate voters and those more likely to be exposed to the endorsement. In sum, these findings suggest that voters do rely on the media for information during campaigns but that the extent of this reliance depends upon the degree and direction of any bias.