International Tv News, Foreign Affairs Interest and Public Knowledge

Abstract

This article investigates the volume of foreign news provided by public service and commercial TV channels in countries with different media systems, and how this corresponds to the public's interest in and knowledge of foreign affairs. We use content analyses of television newscasts and public opinion surveys in 11 countries across five continents to provide new insight into the supply and demand for international television news. We find that (1) more market-oriented media systems and broadcasters are less devoted to international news, and (2) the international news offered by these commercial broadcasters more often focuses on soft rather than hard news. Furthermore, our results suggest that the foreign news offered by the main TV channels is quite limited in scope, and mainly driven by a combination of national interest and geographic proximity. In sum, our study demonstrates some limitations of foreign news coverage, but results also point to its importance: there is a positive relationship between the amount of hard international news coverage and citizens' level of foreign affairs knowledge.

Resilience to Online Disinformation: A Framework for Cross-National Comparative Research

“…Studies have shown that information environments influence what citizens know about socially relevant topics. Aalberg et al (2013) have demonstrated a positive relationship between the amount of hard news coverage available in a country and the citizens’ level of public affairs knowledge. These authors, along with other studies, have found the highest levels of hard news and public affairs knowledge in countries with strong public service broadcasting (PSB; Aalberg and Curran 2012; Curran et al 2009).…”

Why Are “Others” So Polarized? Perceived Political Polarization and Media Use in 10 Countries

“…For example, norms of civility likely differ across sociopolitical contexts and different media systems may promote differing reporting standards and journalistic functions under different funding constraints (e.g. public versus private media, Aalberg et al, ; Soroka et al, ). The oft‐criticized contentious rhetoric in U.S. media, the screaming heads, ferocious pundits, and the “in your face” debates where participants are cast as enemies and routinely attack or denigrate each other (Ansolabehere & Iyengar, ; Mutz, ) may be less (or yet more) prevalent in other media systems, thus leading to different effects on citizens' perceptions.…”

Imágenes icónicas. Contrastes en la representación audiovisual del ‘pequeño Aylan’ en el periodismo televisivo español y europeo

“…En esta línea comparativa para conocer la incidencia de lo internacional en los informativos de TV en 11 países, Toril Aalberg et al (2013) concluyen que las cadenas públicas ofrecen una mayor cobertura internacional, al tiempo que las privadas se centran en noticias denominadas "blandas". También constatan que la selección de esas informaciones está condicionada por los intereses nacionales así como por las relaciones políticas y geográficas.…”