Media framing of religion and politics shapes how sympathetic audiences feel toward a story

Evidence

The news media can have a powerful effect on public opinion. The way in which the media frames an issue or story often directs audience responses as more or less sympathetic (Edelstein, 1982). This is especially true for coverage of controversial social issues, like religion or politics. As described by Edelstein (1982), the media serves as a conduit for collective consciousness in a nation, meaning that is helps to express certain values and attitudes representative of national identity. In doing so, the media is a receptive and expressive machine, presenting and reinforcing the values of constituents (Barker, 2012; Schudson, 1982). It also functions as a source of influence on public opinion through framing, which is arguably its more controversial role in culture and society. — Emily Greene-Colozzi, Amy Adamczyk, and Senahan Kiyal Keles, Differences in Religious Framing of…, 21

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to framing-effect literature and to the reader’s interest in how moral panics are amplified by press coverage.