The Effects of Media Dependencies on Audience Assessment of Government

A review of existing research shows some evidence that persons dependent on television news for public affairs information are more likely to have negative attitudes toward government and to be less well informed about that government than persons dependent on newspapers Such a relationship between dependency and evaluations and knowledge of government was replicated here, though only where local government was concerned The meaning of the dependency concept is explored and empirical evidence is offered that dependency is distinct from simple exposure to the media