According to a new study, criticism from Republican politicians has a major impact on how people—especially Republicans—view and use local news sources.
The study comes as US President Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in her first press briefing that for the first time ever, the White House’s James S. Brady Press Briefing Room will welcome new media while voicing concerns with more traditional or “legacy” media outlets.
The research, coauthored by Erik Peterson, an assistant professor of political science at Rice University, used a survey experiment with 3,653 respondents to examine how Republican elite attacks on local news influence public trust in these outlets and perceptions of the attacking politician.
Participants were randomly assigned to a control or treatment condition with the control group reading a press release about voter registration and the treatment group reading a Republican politician’s attack on a major local newspaper in their state.
“Our study specifically focused on Republican elites because they have historically been more critical of the media, and Republican voters generally still trust local news even if they are skeptical of the national media,” Peterson says.
The study indeed revealed that trust in local newspapers takes a significant hit when political leaders criticize them. Republican voters showed the biggest drop in trust. While 74% of this group viewed the local news source as trustworthy in the study’s control group, only 43% did so when they saw criticism from the politician. But it’s not just Republicans—Democrats became 7% less trusting of local news after hearing the attack, while trust among independents fell by 28%.
Here’s the kicker: Even being a loyal reader doesn’t offer much protection. People who said they were familiar with a local news source still reported major drops in trust and a decreased intent to read after political criticism.
“Local news has always been a trusted lifeline for communities, but that trust is surprisingly fragile,” Peterson says.
“We found it’s endured in part because these sources have not received as much criticism as the national media but that the public’s confidence in local news can be shaken when politicians go on the attack.”
The study also highlights a risky game for politicians. While political criticism can erode trust in the media, it can backfire and damage the reputations of those taking issue with local press.
“That might explain why many politicians are careful to maintain good relationships with local outlets—they know the public ultimately does value these sources,” Peterson says.
Despite the criticism, local news still holds a unique place in people’s hearts. Over 70% of Americans view their hometown news outlets favorably according to the study, a stark contrast to the declining trust in national media. However, the study warns that constant attacks could bring local outlets closer to the polarized reputation of some prominent national media outlets.
“This highlights just how much partisanship shapes trust and media habits in today’s political climate,” Peterson says.
“Local journalism has long been considered one of the last strongholds of public trust, but our study clearly indicates that this trust can crumble fast if political leaders target it.”
The takeaway? Local news is vital for keeping communities informed and engaged, but it’s not invincible, the study shows. As attacks from political elites ramp up, Peterson says he hopes media outlets and communities do their part in protecting the reputation of local journalism.
Allison Archer, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Houston, is the study’s coauthor.
The research appears in Cambridge University Press.
Source: Rice University
