News Media Use, Citizen Communication, and Civic Participation: A Communication Mediation Model

Abstract

The present study examined the structural relationships among nes media use, interpersonal communication, and civic participation and how these relationships differed across educational backgrounds. The data from the sample of 1,215 South Koreans adequately fit the hypothesized model. Television news watching and Internet news searching positively influenced the level of civic participation, while newspaper reading did not. Being engaged in political talk with family, friends, and collegues was related to a higher level of civic participation. The effect of newspaper reading on civic participation operated through the effect of newspaper reading on everyday talk. Finally, Internet news searching played a different role in influencing interpersonal communication depending on the person's educational background. The results suggest thath those with different educational backgrounds have different paths by which they engage in communication and civic participation.