TY - JOUR PY - 2023// TI - Persuasion through slanted language: evidence from the media coverage of immigration JO - American economic review A1 - Djourelova, Milena SP - 800 EP - 835 VL - 113 IS - 3 N2 - I study the persuasive effects of slanted language, exploiting a ban on the politically charged term "illegal immigrant" by the Associated Press (AP) news wire. My empirical strategy combines the timing of the ban with variation across media outlets in their baseline reliance on AP copy. I document sizable diffusion of the ban from AP copy to media outlets. Moreover, individuals exposed to the ban through local media show significantly lower support for restrictive immigration policies. This effect is more pronounced for moderates and in locations with fewer immigrants, and does not transfer to views on issues other than immigration.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0002-8282 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.20211537 ID - ref1 ER -