Interest in news and politics- or situational determinants? Why people watch the news

Anke Wonneberger*, Klaus Schoenbach, Lex van Meurs

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study compared and integrated the influence of motivational and situational determinants on news viewing behavior. Individual people-meter data allowed the unobtrusive study of news viewing situations. The finding is that the viewing context is much more important than motivations. However, interest in the news and politics can reinforce or reverse situational influences. For interested viewers, watching more TV in general mainly explains news viewing, while for less interested viewers, lead-out effects and social viewing are more relevant.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)325-343
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
Volume55
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication

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