“My body,my choice” versus “officials say” Examining the effects of solidarity and monitorial reporting

Abstract

This study contributes the first experiment (n = 1,342) comparing audience reception of solidarity reporting to monitorial reporting. Solidarity reporting prioritizes insights of people impacted, while monitorial reporting focuses on officials. We find that covering abortion access protests using a solidarity approach improved news story credibility perceptions for Democrats, while Republicans rated the solidarity and monitorial stories as equally credible. Solidarity reporting may help newsrooms cover contentious issues inclusively, without diminishing audience perceptions of credibility.

Keywords

press and society reporting techniques audience analysis credibility writing readership

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