Abstract
An online experiment was conducted to test if and how the combination of textual frames (empowerment, victimization and threat) and visual frames (empowerment, victimization and threat) influences audiences’ prejudice, empathetic response and public policy support for Roma people in the United Kingdom. This experimental study used a 3 (textual frame: empowerment, victimization, threat) X 2 (visual amplification: photo, no photo) between-subjects factorial design. Participants were randomly assigned to read one empowerment news story or one victimization news story or one threat news story. The news story included either one empowerment photograph of a Roma woman, one victimization photograph of a Roma woman, a threat photograph of a Roma woman or no photograph. Findings revealed that the news story that contained the empowerment frame increased empathy, decreased prejudice but did not influence public policy. The news story with the threat frame decreased empathy and the support for public policy. The victimization frame did not significantly impact empathy, prejudice and policy support. Visual intensification was effective only when participants were exposed to a threat news story that included a threat visual frame. This combination significantly decreased empathy, increased prejudice and decreased the support for a public policy to support Roma people compared to all the other conditions.
Presenters
Umberto FamulariAssistant Professor, Journalism and Media Communication, Colorado State University, Colorado, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Community Diversity and Governance
KEYWORDS
Roma people; Framing; Visual Communication; Prejudice; Empathy; Public Policies; Effects
