Abstract

ROJAS, Hernando. Communication, Participation and Democracy. univ.humanist. [online]. 2006, n.62, pp.109-142. ISSN 0120-4807.

This paper empirically explores the role of media and political conversation as antecedents to political engagement, a set of political attitudes and behaviors. Political engagement was operationalized as political interest, political knowledge, political efficacy, associational membership, and civic and political participation. The relationships of conversation, news and entertainment media uses were examined in the context of a tumultuous society. Statistical analyses suggest that the consumption of news media and political conversation are positively related to all aspects of political engagement. On the other hand, certain entertainment media uses are negatively related. The relevance of media use and political conversation to explain political engagement is discussed and their potential to predict support for democracy is explored.

Keywords : Media; political; engagement; democracy; news use; entertainment uses; Colombia.

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