Why Democratic voters like seeing Democrats interviewed on Fox News’s Tucker Carlson more than Republican voters like Republicans on CNN

Clementson, D. E., & Zhao, W. (AdPR PhD student) (2023, Nov. 16-19). “Why Democratic voters like seeing Democrats interviewed on Fox News’s Tucker Carlson more than Republican voters like Republicans on CNN,” paper presentation. National Communication Association 109th Annual Meeting, National Harbor, MD, United States.

Abstract: Partisan political media outlets have grown in combativeness toward opposing ideologies. Social identity theory holds that ingroup-outgroup bias may benefit a politician who takes a risk by appearing on an opposing network (e.g., a Democrat interviewed by Fox News). But less is known about the effects of receiving harsh treatment on top of entering enemy territory (e.g., CNN accusing a Republican interviewee of deceit). Research is also divided as to whether politicians sustain increased likability among their own supporters when they appear on opposing networks or whether they reach across the proverbial aisle and earn support from the opposition. In two experiments we manipulate the relative combativeness of interviews, and randomly assign ingroup/outgroup conditions. Across both studies (total N = 521 U.S. voters), effects depend, to varying degrees, on perceptions of media credibility and the interviewer’s tone. Democrats and Republicans react in polar opposite ways to combativeness, based on media trust. Democrats have more to gain, and Republicans have more to lose, when they appear on cross-partisan cable interviews. Theoretical and practical implications are detailed.