When coverage gets ahead of the facts

We often speculate about how media coverage could make people cynical about politics and government. But new political science research suggests just how significant those effects can be, using Jack Welch’s jobs report conspiracy theory and coverage of the IRS scandal as case studies.

The research comes in a pair of papers by Boston University political scientists Katherine Einstein and David Glick. Their findings have important implications for journalists. First, credulous reporting of unsubstantiated conspiracy theory claims has potentially significant consequences. It may not only increase belief in the claims in question, but could also make readers more cynical or distrustful about government—particularly if they don’t reflect carefully on what they have read or heard. Likewise, journalistic coverage of scandal can make the public more vulnerable to conspiracy theories. When scandal allegations are dominating the news, even unrelated claims about government misconduct may seem more plausible. Einstein and Glick’s research shows why it’s essential that journalists stick to the facts rather than letting narratives drive their scandal reporting or giving credence to conspiracy theories. Irresponsible coverage creates the potential for a vicious cycle in which conspiracy theories about an administration help generate scandals that, in turn, reinforce yet more conspiracy theories.