Elite Cues, Negative Partisanship, and the Changing Media Landscape

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 2 empirically demonstrates the growth in strong partisanship and negative partisanship, and the relationship of these trends to the changing media environment. It shows that the share of the public that identifies as independent has remained stable over time. But, for those who identify as partisan, their attachment to their party has grown considerably stronger and is also far more negative toward the opposition party. This change corresponds with the development of a cadre of strongly partisan news outlets and social media that have allowed those who seek information about politics to find one-sided information that supports their side or attacks and vilifies the other. As a result of the advent of social media, political elites can now avoid the media all together and speak directly to voters. The conflagration of these forces has led partisan elites to have considerable influence over co-partisan voters.