The political economy of mass media

Riccardo Puglisi

PhD in Economics Bocconi University I What determines the political position of media outlets? (demand vs. supply)

I What are the persuasive effects of the media? (relevance of supply side)

I Game-theoretic models on the political role of the media: commitment models vs. political agency models

A roadmap

I The political position of the media: how to measure it I What are the persuasive effects of the media? (relevance of supply side)

I Game-theoretic models on the political role of the media: commitment models vs. political agency models

A roadmap

I The political position of the media: how to measure it

I What determines the political position of media outlets? (demand vs. supply) I Game-theoretic models on the political role of the media: commitment models vs. political agency models

A roadmap

I The political position of the media: how to measure it

I What determines the political position of media outlets? (demand vs. supply)

I What are the persuasive effects of the media? (relevance of supply side) A roadmap

I The political position of the media: how to measure it

I What determines the political position of media outlets? (demand vs. supply)

I What are the persuasive effects of the media? (relevance of supply side)

I Game-theoretic models on the political role of the media: commitment models vs. political agency models I (1) the comparison approach: compare media outlets with political actors whose ideological position is known (e.g. congressmen and/or voters))

I (2) the agenda approach: analyse the amount of coverage devoted to different policy relevant issues (agenda-setting) and/or the way those issues are covered (framing and priming)

I Methodological standpoint: get replicable and portable measures.

I Two different approaches:

The political position of the media: measuring it

I First approximation: a unidimensional policy space (but: what about a multidimensional policy space?) I (1) the comparison approach: compare media outlets with political actors whose ideological position is known (e.g. congressmen and/or voters))

I (2) the agenda approach: analyse the amount of coverage devoted to different policy relevant issues (agenda-setting) and/or the way those issues are covered (framing and priming)

I Two different approaches:

The political position of the media: measuring it

I First approximation: a unidimensional policy space (but: what about a multidimensional policy space?)

I Methodological standpoint: get replicable and portable measures. I (1) the comparison approach: compare media outlets with political actors whose ideological position is known (e.g. congressmen and/or voters))

I (2) the agenda approach: analyse the amount of coverage devoted to different policy relevant issues (agenda-setting) and/or the way those issues are covered (framing and priming)

The political position of the media: measuring it

I First approximation: a unidimensional policy space (but: what about a multidimensional policy space?)

I Methodological standpoint: get replicable and portable measures.

I Two different approaches: I (2) the agenda approach: analyse the amount of coverage devoted to different policy relevant issues (agenda-setting) and/or the way those issues are covered (framing and priming)

The political position of the media: measuring it

I First approximation: a unidimensional policy space (but: what about a multidimensional policy space?)

I Methodological standpoint: get replicable and portable measures.

I Two different approaches:

I (1) the comparison approach: compare media outlets with political actors whose ideological position is known (e.g. congressmen and/or voters)) The political position of the media: measuring it

I First approximation: a unidimensional policy space (but: what about a multidimensional policy space?)

I Methodological standpoint: get replicable and portable measures.

I Two different approaches:

I (1) the comparison approach: compare media outlets with political actors whose ideological position is known (e.g. congressmen and/or voters))

I (2) the agenda approach: analyse the amount of coverage devoted to different policy relevant issues (agenda-setting) and/or the way those issues are covered (framing and priming) I Still, we need to find a “bridge” that connects congressmen and media outlets.

I First idea: We code a given newspaper or TV news broadcast as left leaning, the more it cites –in a non-negative fashion– those think-tanks which are more often cited by Democratic congressmen: Groseclose and Milyo [2005].

I Second idea: We code a newspaper or TV broadcast as left leaning if its language is more similar to the language used by Democrati congressmen. For example: estate tax vs. death tax. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Third idea: I code a newspaper as left leaning the more it provides endorsements on referenda that are aligned with the endorsements made by the Democratic party. Since voters vote on referenda (by definition!), I can compare newspapapers to voters as well. Puglisi e Snyder [2009].

Measurement: the comparison approach

I Premise: one can easily classify congressmen on an ideological scale by studying their roll call votes. I First idea: We code a given newspaper or TV news broadcast as left leaning, the more it cites –in a non-negative fashion– those think-tanks which are more often cited by Democratic congressmen: Groseclose and Milyo [2005].

I Second idea: We code a newspaper or TV broadcast as left leaning if its language is more similar to the language used by Democrati congressmen. For example: estate tax vs. death tax. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Third idea: I code a newspaper as left leaning the more it provides endorsements on referenda that are aligned with the endorsements made by the Democratic party. Since voters vote on referenda (by definition!), I can compare newspapapers to voters as well. Puglisi e Snyder [2009].

Measurement: the comparison approach

I Premise: one can easily classify congressmen on an ideological scale by studying their roll call votes.

I Still, we need to find a “bridge” that connects congressmen and media outlets. I Second idea: We code a newspaper or TV broadcast as left leaning if its language is more similar to the language used by Democrati congressmen. For example: estate tax vs. death tax. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Third idea: I code a newspaper as left leaning the more it provides endorsements on referenda that are aligned with the endorsements made by the Democratic party. Since voters vote on referenda (by definition!), I can compare newspapapers to voters as well. Puglisi e Snyder [2009].

Measurement: the comparison approach

I Premise: one can easily classify congressmen on an ideological scale by studying their roll call votes.

I Still, we need to find a “bridge” that connects congressmen and media outlets.

I First idea: We code a given newspaper or TV news broadcast as left leaning, the more it cites –in a non-negative fashion– those think-tanks which are more often cited by Democratic congressmen: Groseclose and Milyo [2005]. I Third idea: I code a newspaper as left leaning the more it provides endorsements on referenda that are aligned with the endorsements made by the Democratic party. Since voters vote on referenda (by definition!), I can compare newspapapers to voters as well. Puglisi e Snyder [2009].

Measurement: the comparison approach

I Premise: one can easily classify congressmen on an ideological scale by studying their roll call votes.

I Still, we need to find a “bridge” that connects congressmen and media outlets.

I First idea: We code a given newspaper or TV news broadcast as left leaning, the more it cites –in a non-negative fashion– those think-tanks which are more often cited by Democratic congressmen: Groseclose and Milyo [2005].

I Second idea: We code a newspaper or TV broadcast as left leaning if its language is more similar to the language used by Democrati congressmen. For example: estate tax vs. death tax. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009]. Measurement: the comparison approach

I Premise: one can easily classify congressmen on an ideological scale by studying their roll call votes.

I Still, we need to find a “bridge” that connects congressmen and media outlets.

I First idea: We code a given newspaper or TV news broadcast as left leaning, the more it cites –in a non-negative fashion– those think-tanks which are more often cited by Democratic congressmen: Groseclose and Milyo [2005].

I Second idea: We code a newspaper or TV broadcast as left leaning if its language is more similar to the language used by Democrati congressmen. For example: estate tax vs. death tax. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Third idea: I code a newspaper as left leaning the more it provides endorsements on referenda that are aligned with the endorsements made by the Democratic party. Since voters vote on referenda (by definition!), I can compare newspapapers to voters as well. Puglisi e Snyder [2009]. Figure 1

endorse N endorse Y

(a)

N (N+Y)/2 Y = M

endorse N endorse Y

(b) N (N+Y)/2 M Y

endorse N endorse Y

(c)

N M (N+Y)/2 Y

35 Figure 2

California Endorsers and Voters

0-1-.5.51Right of Median Score NatlFriendsCourageCaliticsCABallotAlamedaSFMontereyS.PacificMetroVenturaVallejoVacavilleStocktonSonomaSalinasSacramentoPalmModestoMercedLALompocLaFresnoEurekaDailyWoodlandVisaliaTri-ValleyGilroyFremont-NewarkBakersfieldLeagueBayWhittierRiversideReddingRedPasadenaOaklandNorthInlandHaywardHanfordContraChicoTorranceMountainOrangeLongLodiCitizHowardALAMEDAORANGE JoseRosaCruzMateoGabrielBarbaraLuisDiegoBernardinoDIEGO PrensaBayExaminerChronicleCO.TimesDailyTeachersSierraSEIUNursesLeagLaborGreenFedChurchAFSCMEDemocPeaceLibertarianChNatlTaxpayManufFarmRepub AreaBluff OrgFedNews-Sentinel forSprings CalifornianBeach EnterpriseInitDispatchCo. ValleySilicon ofTimes-Delta SunObispoVOTERSTimes-HeraldTimes-StandardBeeCostaGuardianCalifornian SentinelMercuryofCo.CommSun-StarPress JarvisTaxpay TribSentinelRecordBetterIndex-TribDailyCo.News CampaignUnion-TribforIndepofBureau BeeDailyCo.Times-StarCO.ReporterCommerceDaily Press-EnterpCouncilRecordDemoc FedClubPartyValleyStar-NewsCo.HeraldStrategy& TimesS.PartyDailyTeachersCA CO.NewsAssn PartyImpactAssnCalifornian RegisterTaxpWomenConserv FreedomPress-TelTechnology WomenStarBee DiegoDailyLaborTaxpay AssnTimesDesertValley VOTERSTimesTaxpayCo.DemocWeeklyHeraldNews Cities TaxpRevTribonVOTERSParty BreezeBusinessNews Amer Democ UnionSrchlNews TribRecordPress ArgusAssnSun LegislationBulletin CtrCouncil VotersAssn VotersSun AssnAssnPty Assn

Monterey Co. Weekly SF Bay Guardian CA Democ Party Alameda Co. Labor Council Ballot Init Strategy Ctr CA AFSCME CA Church Impact CA Fed of Teachers CA Green Party CA Labor Fed CA Leag of Conserv Voters CA Leag of Women Voters CA Repub Party CA Nurses Assn Alameda Co. Taxpay Assn CA SEIU CA Farm Bureau CA Sierra Club CA Manuf & Technology Assn CA Teachers Assn CA Taxpay Assn Calitics Contra Costa Taxpay Assn Courage Campaign Howard Jarvis Taxp Assn Friends Comm on Legislation CA Ch of Commerce Natl Fed Indep Business Natl Org for Women CA Libertarian Party CA Natl Taxpay Union 36 ALAMEDA CO. VOTERS Metro Silicon Valley Bay Area Council Citiz for Better Amer ORANGE CO. VOTERS SF CO. VOTERS CA Peace & Freedom Pty Daily Californian League of CA Cities Orange Co. Taxp Assn S. DIEGO CO. VOTERS

Eureka Times-Standard Alameda Times-Star Fresno Bee Chico Enterprise Record La Prensa S. Diego Contra Costa Times Lompoc Record Hanford Sentinel LA Times Hayward Daily Rev Merced Sun-Star Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Modesto Bee North Co. Times Palm Springs Desert Sun Oakland Trib Sacramento Bee Pasadena Star-News Salinas Californian Bakersfield Californian Red Bluff Daily News S. Cruz Sentinel Fremont-Newark Argus Redding Record Srchl S. Rosa Press Democ Gilroy Dispatch Riverside Press-Enterp Lodi News-Sentinel Monterey Co. Herald Sonoma Index-Trib Tri-Valley Herald S. Bernardino Co. Sun Long Beach Press-Tel Pacific Sun Stockton Record S. Gabriel Valley Trib S. Diego Union-Trib LA Daily News SF Chronicle Vacaville Reporter S. Mateo Co. Times S. Luis Obispo Trib Orange Co. Register SF Examiner Vallejo Times-Herald Visalia Times-Delta S. Barbara News Press Mountain Democ S. Jose Mercury News Ventura Co. Star Woodland Daily Democ Whittier Daily News Torrance Daily Breeze 0

-1 -.5 0 .5 1 Right of Median Score Figure 3

Endorsers in AZ, CO, FL, OR, WA

0-1-.5.51Right of Median Score EugeneDailyWALindasOREcumenicalProgressBlogBallotAZSteamboatDurangoBoulderTucsonThePacificCOSeattleLewistonMedfordGreshamSt.SummitLovelandLongmontFtOlympiaStatesmanPortlandCorvallisTampaTallahasseeSarasotaPensacolaPalmMiamiLakelandDaytonaBradentonLakewoodGreeleyGoldenDenverArvadaTri-ValleyFlagstaffEastFLVancouverTacomaKitsapBellinghamKlamathBakerAlbanyVeroStuartOrlandoOcalaNaplesMelbourneWheatGrandRockyYumaYakimaSpokesmanLongviewKentBellevuePuebloPrescottAssnCentraliaJupiterSoundVictoriaTaxpayParentsChristianJames CollinsMorganPierceMyersLauderdaleLeagLibertarianTimes-UnionChGreenAdvocacyDemocDailyAFL-CIORepublicLibertarianFedNatlConservativeFarmCh ActionSEIUEducAFSCMEBusinessTaxpayPetersburgSpringsStateEducResearchEagleNatl Stranger ValleyforBeachSouth AstorianofOR Star-BannerSun CityofHeraldInitJct.MountainofPolitics SunNewsMadisonGuideGreenRidge DailyChieftainTrib TranscriptDemoc-HeraldCourierofHerald-RepublicPressPostPost-IntelligencerTimesChAssn CitizenRegister-GuardWeeklyTaxpay DailyEducWASentinelTaft ofNewsAZOlympian FallsStarTaxpayMail-TribGazetteAssnEastOregonianIndustriesBeachHeraldBureauCommerce DailyNewsNowOutlookCoalitionCommerce Herald-TribChronicleLedgerTribAZDailyAssn ColoradoanParty DailyDispatchStrategyForumLaborTaxpayTeachersNews SentinelTimesDailyHeraldFL Partyof WomenColumbianUnitedHeraldJournalIndepGazettePilotTribMinistries Co.Review PostPressDemocBusinessNewsAssnDaily TranscriptofPartyTrib CameraAssnNewsCommerceCouncilHldNetwork SideToday SunCOPartyTribCourier Party Rprtr-HldTimesPressNews InstituteNews-JJournalUnion ORTimes-CallSentinelNewsJCouncilUnion Times& JSunofSentinel Journal Vot.CtrofNews & OR of ORInd OR

AZ Democ Party AZ Ch of Commerce & Ind AZ Advocacy Network AZ Farm Bureau AZ Green Party AZ Conservative Ballot Init Strategy Ctr AZ Natl Taxpay Union Blog for AZ FL Ch of Commerce Progress Now CO James Madison Institute Eugene Weekly Assn OR Industries OR Democ Party Christian Coalition of OR Ecumenical Ministries of OR OR Natl Taxpay Union OR AFL-CIO OR Farm Bureau OR AFSCME OR Libertarian Party OR Educ Assn OR Taxpay United OR Fed of Teachers Parents Educ Assn OR SEIU AZ AFL-CIO AZ Fed of Taxpay Taxpay Assn of OR OR Action CO Springs Indep CO Farm Bureau Victoria Taft Lindas Guide OR Business Assn AZ Libertarian Party Assn of WA Business WA Natl Taxpay Union WA Educ Assn Pacific Green Party of OR CO Libertarian Party Seattle Ch of Commerce Sound Politics WA State Labor Council The Stranger FL Leag of Women Vot. FL Libertarian Party WA Research Council WA Eagle Forum

37 East Valley Trib Flagstaff AZ Daily Sun AZ Republic Yuma Sun Tri-Valley Dispatch Rocky Mountain News Arvada Press Grand Jct. Daily Sentinel Denver Post Wheat Ridge Transcript Ft Morgan Times Ft Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Golden Transcript Ft Myers News Press Greeley Daily Trib Ft Pierce Trib Lakewood Sentinel Melbourne FL Today Bradenton Herald Naples Daily News Daytona Beach News-J Ocala Star-Banner Lakeland Ledger Orlando Sentinel Miami Herald Stuart News Ft Collins Coloradoan Palm Beach Post Vero Beach Press J Longmont Daily Times-Call Pensacola News J Albany Democ-Herald Prescott Daily Courier Loveland Daily Rprtr-Hld Sarasota Herald-Trib Baker City Herald CO Springs Gazette Summit Daily News Tallahassee Democ Klamath Falls Hld & News Pueblo Chieftain AZ Daily Star St. Petersburg Times Tampa Trib Bellingham Herald Bellevue East Side Journal Tucson Citizen Gresham Outlook Corvallis Gazette Times Kitsap Sun Kent South Co. Journal Boulder Daily Camera Medford Mail-Trib Portland Oregonian Seattle Times Longview Daily News FL Times-Union Daily Astorian Durango Herald Lewiston Trib Statesman Journal Tacoma News Trib Spokesman Review Jupiter Courier Eugene Register-Guard Steamboat Pilot Seattle Post-Intelligencer Olympia Olympian Vancouver ColumbianYakima Herald-Republic Centralia Chronicle 0

-1 -.5 0 .5 1 Right of Median Score I Investigate the variation in coverage of bad economic news, as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Larcinese et al. [2011].

I Investigate the variation in coverage of corruption scandals, depending on the political affiliation of those involved Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Analyse the variation in the tone of newspaper headlines about the release of macroeconomic figures, again as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Lott and Hassett [2004].

Measurement: the agenda approach

I One can investigate whether and to what extent during presidential campaigns a given newspaper gives more coverage to issues on which Democrats or Republicans are perceived as more competent(issue ownership). E.g.: health care and civil rights vs. defense. Puglisi [2011]: issue coverage by the NYT during the 1946-1996 period. I Investigate the variation in coverage of corruption scandals, depending on the political affiliation of those involved Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Analyse the variation in the tone of newspaper headlines about the release of macroeconomic figures, again as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Lott and Hassett [2004].

Measurement: the agenda approach

I One can investigate whether and to what extent during presidential campaigns a given newspaper gives more coverage to issues on which Democrats or Republicans are perceived as more competent(issue ownership). E.g.: health care and civil rights vs. defense. Puglisi [2011]: issue coverage by the NYT during the 1946-1996 period.

I Investigate the variation in coverage of bad economic news, as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Larcinese et al. [2011]. I Analyse the variation in the tone of newspaper headlines about the release of macroeconomic figures, again as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Lott and Hassett [2004].

Measurement: the agenda approach

I One can investigate whether and to what extent during presidential campaigns a given newspaper gives more coverage to issues on which Democrats or Republicans are perceived as more competent(issue ownership). E.g.: health care and civil rights vs. defense. Puglisi [2011]: issue coverage by the NYT during the 1946-1996 period.

I Investigate the variation in coverage of bad economic news, as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Larcinese et al. [2011].

I Investigate the variation in coverage of corruption scandals, depending on the political affiliation of those involved Puglisi and Snyder [2011]. Measurement: the agenda approach

I One can investigate whether and to what extent during presidential campaigns a given newspaper gives more coverage to issues on which Democrats or Republicans are perceived as more competent(issue ownership). E.g.: health care and civil rights vs. defense. Puglisi [2011]: issue coverage by the NYT during the 1946-1996 period.

I Investigate the variation in coverage of bad economic news, as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Larcinese et al. [2011].

I Investigate the variation in coverage of corruption scandals, depending on the political affiliation of those involved Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Analyse the variation in the tone of newspaper headlines about the release of macroeconomic figures, again as a function of the political affiliation of the incumbent president. Lott and Hassett [2004]. News on unemployment

Media bias?

Democratic president

Republican president

Unemployment rate News Republican newspaper

Unemployment compare them!

News

Democratic newspaper

Unemployment Time variation in net Democratic endorsements on the LA Times vs. Democratic vote in California

Net Dem Endorsements Avg Dem Vote Pct - .5

.5

0

-.5

-1 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 year2

Actual hits (Repub=0, Democ=1) Predicted hits, Republican Pres Actual hits (Repub=0, Democ=1) Predicted hits, Republican Pres Predicted hits, Democratic Pres Predicted hits, Democratic Pres

1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 .01 1 1 0 0 1 .015 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 10 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 01 1 0 0 1 0 01 0 1 0 10 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 .01 1 1 1 1 0 000 1 01 01 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 10 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 01 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 01 1 1 0 1 0 0 01 0 01 1 0 0000 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 01 1 1 1 1 01 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 01 1 0 1 1 1 0 01 10 0 0111 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 01 1 01 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .005 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 01 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 10 10 0 1 0 110 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 01 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 10 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 1 1 0 01 111 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 .005 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0010 0 111 1 1 001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 00 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 111 0 0 0 0 (Unemployment Hits)/(Total Hits) 0 1 (Unemployment Hits)/(Total Hits) 000 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 Unemployment Rate Unemployment Rate Early Period, 1948-1965 Later Period, 1966-2005

Actual hits (Repub=0, Democ=1) Predicted hits, Republican Pres Actual hits (Repub=0, Democ=1) Predicted hits, Republican Pres Predicted hits, Democratic Pres Predicted hits, Democratic Pres

0 .04 0

.01 1 1 1 1 1 .03 0 0 1 0 1 10 0 1 0 1 1 1 001 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 11 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 .02 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 011 0 .005 0 1 0 00 0 0 0 1 0 00 00 0000 0 1 00 01 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0000 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 00 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 00 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 00 00 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 10 0 0 1 11011 0 00 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 001 1 0 10 11 0 0 0 01 0 1 11 11 01 00 1 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 01 11 1 1 011010 01000 0 0 0 00 0 0 (Inflation Hits)/(Total Hits) 1 0 0 (Inflation Hits)/(Total Hits) 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 11 .01 1 0 1001 11011111 110111 1 1 00 00 0 00 00 0 0 1 1 10 0 0 0 1 0 1 10 10 01000110 1 01 0 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 111 11 0 0 0 0 111 010 1100000000011000 100 0 000 0 0 1 0 111 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 110 0 01110 0 010 0 110 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 11 110 01 000 01101101 001 11 01011000 0010 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 00 0 101100 1 00 001 0 0 00 00 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 11 0 0 010 00000 1 11 1 11 01 0 0 11 0 0 000 0 1 1 1 0 0 11 1 0 0 1 1 11 11 111 11 0 11 0 0 0 .01 .02 .03 .04 .02 .04 .06 .08 .1 .12 Inflation Rate Inflation Rate Early Period, 1948-1965 Later Period, 1966-2005 Los Angeles Times, Pre- and Post- Otis Chandler

unemp_news_Dn_minus_Rn 1996m1 -.1 0 .1 .2 .3 .4 Unemployment coverage, 1996-2005 1998m1 unemp_news_Dn_minus_Rn Democratic vs. Republican newspapers Republican vs. Democratic 2000m1 date... 2002m1 2004m1 unemployment 2006m1

4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 unemployment

I Supply side: ideological preferences of owners, editors and journalists. How to measure them? Party donations by owners. Average propensity to endorse Democratic vs. Republican candidates on the editorial page. Larcinese et al. [2011], Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Other relevant factors: extent of competition on the media market; pressure by incumbent politicians.

I A case study on Italy (time devoted to politicians): Durante and Knight [2009].

Factors affecting the political position of the media

I Demand side: preferences of readers/viewers for ideologically consonant media content. How to measure it? The average Democratic vote in areas where a given newspaper circulates. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009]. I Other relevant factors: extent of competition on the media market; pressure by incumbent politicians.

I A case study on Italy (time devoted to politicians): Durante and Knight [2009].

Factors affecting the political position of the media

I Demand side: preferences of readers/viewers for ideologically consonant media content. How to measure it? The average Democratic vote in areas where a given newspaper circulates. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Supply side: ideological preferences of owners, editors and journalists. How to measure them? Party donations by owners. Average propensity to endorse Democratic vs. Republican candidates on the editorial page. Larcinese et al. [2011], Puglisi and Snyder [2011]. I A case study on Italy (time devoted to politicians): Durante and Knight [2009].

Factors affecting the political position of the media

I Demand side: preferences of readers/viewers for ideologically consonant media content. How to measure it? The average Democratic vote in areas where a given newspaper circulates. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Supply side: ideological preferences of owners, editors and journalists. How to measure them? Party donations by owners. Average propensity to endorse Democratic vs. Republican candidates on the editorial page. Larcinese et al. [2011], Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Other relevant factors: extent of competition on the media market; pressure by incumbent politicians. Factors affecting the political position of the media

I Demand side: preferences of readers/viewers for ideologically consonant media content. How to measure it? The average Democratic vote in areas where a given newspaper circulates. Gentzkow and Shapiro [2009].

I Supply side: ideological preferences of owners, editors and journalists. How to measure them? Party donations by owners. Average propensity to endorse Democratic vs. Republican candidates on the editorial page. Larcinese et al. [2011], Puglisi and Snyder [2011].

I Other relevant factors: extent of competition on the media market; pressure by incumbent politicians.

I A case study on Italy (time devoted to politicians): Durante and Knight [2009]. I Experiment: a free subscription to a right wing newspaper (the Washington Times)) to a random sample, a free subscription to a liberal newspaper to another random sample (Washington Post) + control group. Study the effects on gubernatorial vote in Virginia. Gerber, Karlan and Bergan [2008].

I Natural experiment: correlation between gradual introduction of Fox News in T cable markets and Republican vote in presidential elections. DellaVigna and Kaplan [2007].

I Persuasion and rationality of message recipients: only “surprising” endorsements have significant effects on propensity to vote for that candidate. Chiang and Knight [2011].

The persuasion effects of the media

I Full-fledged experiment vs. natural experiment. I Natural experiment: correlation between gradual introduction of Fox News in T cable markets and Republican vote in presidential elections. DellaVigna and Kaplan [2007].

I Persuasion and rationality of message recipients: only “surprising” endorsements have significant effects on propensity to vote for that candidate. Chiang and Knight [2011].

The persuasion effects of the media

I Full-fledged experiment vs. natural experiment.

I Experiment: a free subscription to a right wing newspaper (the Washington Times)) to a random sample, a free subscription to a liberal newspaper to another random sample (Washington Post) + control group. Study the effects on gubernatorial vote in Virginia. Gerber, Karlan and Bergan [2008]. I Persuasion and rationality of message recipients: only “surprising” endorsements have significant effects on propensity to vote for that candidate. Chiang and Knight [2011].

The persuasion effects of the media

I Full-fledged experiment vs. natural experiment.

I Experiment: a free subscription to a right wing newspaper (the Washington Times)) to a random sample, a free subscription to a liberal newspaper to another random sample (Washington Post) + control group. Study the effects on gubernatorial vote in Virginia. Gerber, Karlan and Bergan [2008].

I Natural experiment: correlation between gradual introduction of Fox News in T cable markets and Republican vote in presidential elections. DellaVigna and Kaplan [2007]. The persuasion effects of the media

I Full-fledged experiment vs. natural experiment.

I Experiment: a free subscription to a right wing newspaper (the Washington Times)) to a random sample, a free subscription to a liberal newspaper to another random sample (Washington Post) + control group. Study the effects on gubernatorial vote in Virginia. Gerber, Karlan and Bergan [2008].

I Natural experiment: correlation between gradual introduction of Fox News in T cable markets and Republican vote in presidential elections. DellaVigna and Kaplan [2007].

I Persuasion and rationality of message recipients: only “surprising” endorsements have significant effects on propensity to vote for that candidate. Chiang and Knight [2011]. I Relevant aspects: replicable measures and identification of causal effect.

I A comparative perspective: approaches to be applied to other countries.

Concluding remarks

I An expanding literature, mainly focused on the US. I A comparative perspective: approaches to be applied to other countries.

Concluding remarks

I An expanding literature, mainly focused on the US.

I Relevant aspects: replicable measures and identification of causal effect. Concluding remarks

I An expanding literature, mainly focused on the US.

I Relevant aspects: replicable measures and identification of causal effect.

I A comparative perspective: approaches to be applied to other countries.