Constructing Political Expertise in the News

Expert news sources provide context and communicate complex policy issues to the public, influencing who and what is elevated and legitimized by news coverage. This element focuses on patterns in expert sourcing in the political domain, conducting a content analysis, experiments, and surveys to understand the demand for expert sources and the experiences of faculty with journalists. The results suggest a tension between journalists' preferences, time constraints, and experts' preferences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Expert news sources play a crucial role in providing context and translating complex policy issues to the public. Their impact extends to determining who and what is elevated and legitimized through news coverage. In this context, this element explores patterns in expert sources, particularly in the realm of politics. To begin, a content analysis is conducted to identify the most prevalent types of political experts who are interviewed. This analysis serves as a foundation for understanding the patterns in expert sourcing. Building upon the source data, experiments and surveys are conducted to examine journalists' demand for expert sources. Additionally, a survey of faculty is conducted to track their experiences with journalists in terms of expert sourcing.

The combined results of these analyses suggest that there are underlying patterns in expert sourcing that are influenced by a tension between journalists' preferences, the time constraints of producing news, and the preferences of the experts themselves. Journalists often rely on expert sources to provide authoritative and credible information, particularly in complex and politically sensitive topics. However, they may face challenges in sourcing and accessing experts due to time constraints, competing demands, and the preferences of experts themselves.

On the other hand, experts may have their own preferences regarding the types of journalists they are willing to work with, the format of interviews, and the dissemination of their expertise. They may also have concerns about being misrepresented or having their views distorted in the media. This tension between journalists' preferences, the time constraints of producing news, and the preferences of experts themselves can lead to various outcomes in expert sourcing. For example, journalists may prioritize sourcing experts who are readily available, have a strong reputation, or are willing to provide concise and accessible information. However, this may result in a limited range of perspectives and a lack of diversity in expert sourcing.

Similarly, experts may be more inclined to work with journalists who are known for their expertise in their field, have a reputation for fair and accurate reporting, or are willing to provide them with ample opportunities to express their views. However, this may lead to a concentration of expert sourcing in a limited number of outlets or a lack of visibility for experts who may have valuable insights but are less well-known.

Overall, the analysis of patterns in expert sourcing in the realm of politics highlights the complex interplay between journalists, experts, and the broader media ecosystem. It underscores the importance of considering the preferences, constraints, and experiences of all stakeholders in order to ensure that expert sourcing is conducted in a fair, balanced, and informative manner. By understanding these patterns, journalists, experts, and policymakers can work together to enhance the quality and credibility of news coverage and promote greater public understanding of complex policy issues.

Weight: 127g
ISBN-13: 9781009108430