Quality press and voter turnout: Evidence for causal effects and its underlying mechanisms

Abstract

Voting is a central aspect of political participation. Although there seems to be a widespread agreement about the beneficial consequences of reading quality newspapers on turnout, there is a lack of causal evidence. We investigated whether the reading of quality newspapers can increase turnout. In order to develop a more comprehensive understanding, we also investigated whether efficacy, interest, knowledge, and distrust mediate newspapers’ impact on turnout. A panel study with two waves was utilized in the run-up to the 2014 EU parliamentary election. Analyses indicate that exposure to quality newspapers increased turnout and that efficacy and knowledge mediated this effect.