Steven Waldman, co-founder and president of Rebuild Local News and Report for America, discusses the critical impact of news sources on voter behavior. He highlights how traditional media versus social platforms shape electoral choices, particularly among younger and Latino voters. Waldman delves into the rise of TikTok and YouTube as news sources, addressing the challenges of misinformation and the decline of local journalism. He emphasizes the importance of reliable information for community engagement and its influence on democratic processes.
The sources of news, whether legacy media or social media, significantly shape voter preferences and candidate support in elections.
The decline of local news has led to increased misinformation and polarization, weakening community engagement and civic unity.
Deep dives
The Impact of Information Sources on Voting Behavior
Voter preferences appear to be significantly influenced by the sources from which individuals obtain their news. For instance, data indicates that those relying on traditional newspapers favored Biden, while those utilizing platforms like YouTube leaned towards Trump. The difference showcases how demographic factors, such as age and ethnicity, intersect with media consumption patterns, particularly among Latinos and younger voters who tend to use social media more extensively for news. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for analyzing election results and future voting trends.
Evolving Media Landscape and Its Consequences
The media landscape has undergone substantial changes, with platforms like TikTok rapidly gaining traction as news sources among younger audiences. A fivefold increase in TikTok users consuming news between elections highlights the shifting preferences in media consumption. Furthermore, traditional media outlets are losing their relevance, as a mix of social media and non-traditional platforms becomes the norm for obtaining information. This evolution raises concerns about misinformation and polarization as users navigate diverse and often unreliable news sources.
Reviving Local News to Combat Misinformation
The decline of local news outlets has created a vacuum that is being filled by national news and social media, contributing to misinformation and increased polarization. With a significant loss of reporters over the past two decades, many communities are left without reliable local journalism, leading to a disconnect in civic engagement. The absence of local news diminishes community cohesion and makes inhabitants feel powerless, further exacerbating feelings of alienation towards their surroundings. Reviving local news is essential not only for disseminating accurate information but also for fostering community unity and problem-solving.
After every major election, the losing side faces a dreaded question: Where did it all go wrong? But journalist Steven Waldman, the co-founder and president of Rebuild Local News and Report for America, argues that pollsters and reporters are overlooking a key factor when debating that question after last week’s outcome. On POLITICO Tech, Waldman explains why the place where voters get their news and information — legacy media or social media — likely influenced which candidate they support.