The representation of public opinion in routine U.S. network news University of Antwerp
Against a backdrop of increasing opinion polarization and distrust in mainstream news media, we investigate when and how U.S. evening newscasts represent citizen opinions. This paper focuses on the different public opinion displays presented in the news and the viewpoints they portray. Using a content analysis of 1,577 items from CBS, ABC, and NBC evening news, we find that public opinion is represented relatively more often in foreign and ...