Why Do People Watch News They Do Not Trust? The Need for Cognition as a Moderator in the Association Between News Media Skepticism and Exposure

• DOI: 10.1207/s1532785xmep0703_2
• Publication Date: 2005-06-06T14:17:01Z
• Authors: Yariv Tsfati; Joseph N. Cappella
• Keywords: Skepticism; Mainstream; Moderation; Association (psychology); Need for cognition

Abstract Prior research has found only modest associations between news media trust and exposure. Many skeptics report moderate to high levels of mainstream exposure, despite their mistrust news. Why do people watch they not trust? This study investigates the moderating role played by psychological construct "the need for cognition" (NFC) in this association. An NFC × Media Skepticism interaction is hypothesized tested on survey data (N = 424). Results provide evidence such an interaction. For those with a reduced NFC, skepticism strongly associated As increases, association exposure disappears. It concluded that consume when irrelevant motivation