The (partisan) role of the press in direct democratic campaigns : Evidence from a Swiss vote on European integration


Autoria(s): Tresch A.
Data(s)

2012

Resumo

This article analyzes the role of the press in direct democratic campaigns. The paper argues the press has a dual role: On news pages, newspapers ought to inform citizens about the issue positions and frames of the pro and con camps in a balanced way. In editorials, newspapers act as political advocates that promote their own issue frames and try to shape public opinion through voting recommendations. Comparing the issue positions and frames in editorials and news reports in the run-up to the vote on the popular initiative "Yes to Europe" in Switzerland, this article shows that newspapers give similar visibility to the pro and con camps regardless of the papers' own editorial position. However, some newspapers favor issue frames that are in line with their editorial perspectives. In conclusion, newspapers are more similar in news report content than in editorial views.

Identificador

http://serval.unil.ch/?id=serval:BIB_94A2D7C15FF5

isbn:1424-7755

doi:10.1111/j.1662-6370.2012.02073.x

Idioma(s)

en

Fonte

Swiss Political Science Review, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 287-304

Palavras-Chave #media coverage; editorial slant; framing; direct democracy; Switzerland
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

article