Media use and protest participation – but what is in-between? The role of different sources of information, media-related perceptions, and political efficacy for protest behavior

Abstract

Many studies show a positive relationship between media use and protest participation. Yet, the picture becomes less clear-cut for different types of media (traditional vs. social media). Thus, the mechanisms underlying these mobilizing media effects remain vague. This paper attempts to address this research gap by looking more closely at media-related factors (evaluation of media coverage about one’s protest group) and relating them to participatory predictors (political efficacy). Based on a survey of activists (N = 132) from randomly selected protest groups in Germany, we analyze both media perceptions and political efficacy as mediators between the use of different information sources and protest behavior. Path analyses showed that using traditional news media and social media was differently related to collective action: In contrast to social media, using traditional news media were related to a positive impression how the media covered one’s own group. This perception of the media coverage was linked to greater political efficacy and, ultimately more protest behavior offline. Yet, the model paths differed for activists from different groups, e.g. environmental groups vs. so-called “concerned citizens” who protested against the governmental measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.