Publication
Title
The effect of politicians' personality on their media visibility
Author
Abstract
While being frequently covered in the news media is key to political success, previous research demonstrates that some politicians are systematically more visible in the media than others. The current study advances our understanding of which politicians gain higher media visibility by exploring the effects of their personality traits. Utilizing a unique sample of 339 incumbent politicians in three countries, we find that the two personality traits that speak directly to one's interpersonal orientation-agreeableness and extraversion-affect visibility, with less agreeable and more extraverted politicians appearing more frequently in the news. We also find that open to experience and emotionally stable politicians get covered more frequently and that being highly conscientious predicts media visibility in some cases, but not in others. Politicians high on these traits, we argue, enjoy an inherent advantage in the competition for the media's attention.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Communication research. - Chicago, Ill., 1974, currens
Publication
Chicago, Ill. : 2020
ISSN
0093-6502 [print]
1552-3810 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0093650218758084
Volume/pages
47 :7 (2020) , p. 1079-1102
ISI
000557507200007
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.09.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
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