Radio Listeners Have Most Extreme Political Views, Newspaper Readers Least

Pew Research Center for the People and the (Print) Press ^ | June 27, 2005 | Pew Research Center for the People and the Press

[rface]

The study found radio listeners were the most polarized news consumers, due in part to ... Rush Limbaugh. Conservative listeners have their ideals reinforced ... which ultimately lead to even more extreme views. Newspaper readers were the least polarized news consumers...readers are less likely to adopt extreme attitudes about certain issues.

"Overall, our findings point to radio as a reason for the increasing polarization of the U.S. public"

click the graphic for a link to PEW Research
(this graphic was added and is not part of the press release - BUT it is composed of data from Pew...)

Newswise — Recent studies indicate that Americans are becoming increasingly extreme in their political, ideological and cultural views. From issues such as stem cell research to the environment, Americans are clinging to viewpoints that are increasingly opposed to one another, a phenomenon that some researchers attribute to the highly contested 2000 presidential election. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism have completed a study suggesting that it is the type of media a person consumes, not necessarily the message, that determines how polarized people are on a certain issue.

Journalism professors Wayne Wanta and Stephanie Craft and journalism doctoral student Mugur Geana used data from a telephone survey administered nationally to 2,528 adults in the United States. Survey respondents answered a series of questions on the government, religion and a combination of those areas, and then their polarization scores were calculated. The researchers then compared variables such as income level, main news source and interaction time with the media to the polarization scores.

The study found radio listeners were the most polarized news consumers, due in part to shows hosted by conservative political commentators such as Rush Limbaugh. Conservative listeners have their ideals reinforced by the shows, which ultimately lead to even more extreme views, Wanta said. Newspaper readers were the least polarized news consumers. Since newspapers do not have the same space and time constraints as television or radio, newspapers are able to provide readers with more information on both sides of an issue. As a result, Wanta said, readers are less likely to adopt extreme attitudes about certain issues.

"Overall, our findings point to radio being a possible reason for the increasing polarization of the U.S. public," Wanta said. "This apparent polarization effect of radio is probably not caused by the amount of information radio listeners receive. If respondents had been using media content as an information source to crystallize their own opinions, we would likely see the same—if not stronger—effect with newspapers or the Internet—media that have information that is more in-depth than the content on radio."

Internet news consumers were also some of the least polarized citizens, which the researchers say is surprising since the Internet users could have easily received their news from outlets that matched their existing views.

"By narrowly concentrating their information consumption on content that reinforces their views, Internet users potentially could experience the same reinforcing process that could be taking place with conservative radio listeners," Wanta said, noting that Internet users are actually become less polarized in their views. "One plausible explanation is that Internet users are seeking breadth as well as depth in the information they get from the Internet. This breadth of information shows both sides of political issues, leading to a wider acceptance of differing political views."

The study was conducted by Princeton Research Associations and sponsored by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. It was presented to the Political Communication Division at the International Communication Association annual convention in New York City in May.

[rface]

CONCLUSION: Radio listeners - especially Limbaugh listeners - are bad extreemists, while newspaper readers are reasonable people that like to get along with others.

This study was paid for by the powers behind thew "Main-Stream-Media"

what a bunch of horse shit

[RedStateRocker]

To paraphrase my favorite conservative of the last century-
"Polarization, in the defense of liberty, is not a vice".

[Rodney King]

Conservative listeners have their ideals reinforced by the shows, which ultimately lead to even more extreme views,

What a load of crap.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I believe Pew is the same group that ginned up that phony groundswell support for "Campaign Finance Reform" that resulted in the McCain-Feingold Act.

With this, are they trying to open the door for a revival of the Fairness Doctrine?

[Maceman]

Conservative listeners have their ideals reinforced by the shows, which ultimately lead to even more extreme views, Wanta said.

The horrors.

The use of an unscientific term like "extreme" renders this entire study worth less than a festering bowl of dog snot.

[Mike Bates]

Well, we can't all be nuanced like Kerry.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[ClearCase_guy]

"I am a radio listeners. I would like lower taxes" <-- Extremist

"I read newspapers. I support partial birth abortion, homosexual marriage, and government ownership of the means of production." <-- Moderate.

[JennysCool]

"Overall, our findings point to radio as a reason for the increasing polarization of the U.S. public"

That's right, it's all about Rush. The Left's descent into complete insanity has nothing to do with it.

[randog]

With this, are they trying to open the door for a revival of the Fairness Doctrine?

My thoughts exactly. Gin up some phony stats for dems to clutch in their hands while they rant from the podium.

[concerned about politics]

"Overall, our findings point to radio as a reason for the increasing polarization of the U.S. public"

Ok. I'll bite. The good people are just saying "No" to liberalism because the liberal news papers can't fool them anymore.
So what's the problem? It sounds like good news to me!

[rface]

perhaps we should reimpose a modified version of the "Fairness Doctrine" --- and that it apply ONLY to tax-payer funded broadcasts... ie. NPR and PBS.

[50sDad]

TRANSLATION" "It is bad to have strong opinions. It is bad to have strong opinions. Sleep...sleep...zzzzzzz."

[Dog Gone]

I read the entire newspaper before going to work each day as well as listening to the radio, which includes about 30-40 minutes of Rush most days.

This probably explains the schizophrenia.

[doug from upland]

I have told people that among Hillary's first executive orders during her presidency would be to shut down talk radio. She would do it. Don't doubt it.

[mmercier]

I miss David Brudnoy.

[rface]

I also noticed that radio listeners are only Conservative Extremist in this study ---- I work with a couple of NPR Extremists .... and they both have mental problems. (Extreme Liberalism is a Mental Disorder)

[stands2reason]

You forgot: The only extremists are on the right.

[ken21]

leave it to the puke research center to come up with a high school sophomoric scam.

[Bossy Gillis]

Gee Rush, after all these years, they are STILL blaming you for influencing your audience. I can remember when the libs thought you weren't relevent, LOL.

[Viking2002]

Snoozepapers.......*YAWN*