Media coverage of government policies and citizen satisfaction with information provision and policy results

Abstract

In our study we ask whether and how media information on government policies affects trust in government and citizen's satisfaction with government policy in the midterm of a period of government. We assume that over the period of government a shift may occur in the dependency of citizen satisfaction on policy news. We assume to find a political communication cycle: A fresh government will harvest citizen satisfaction through communicating its ambition to solve serious real-world problems facing the country. However, prior to the next election, the incumbent parties have to shift their communication approach. We expect them telling people that the real-world problems have been solved due to government policy. The data to test these hypotheses stem from the Netherlands: The data about citizen's (dis)satisfaction in the midterm of a government come from a daily longitudinal content analysis of IA newspapers. The media coverage of 55 policy issues which were prioritized by the Dutch government was analysed. These data were combined with survey data on the awareness and satisfaction for each of these issues. In addition, data about the campaign coverage preceding the next election campaign were used to assess subsequent shifts in media coverage and public appraisal. The midterm results indicate dissatisfaction at all levels. By and large, midterm satisfaction hinges on ambition communication rather than on success communication. Results from the following election campaign show that the largest incumbent party could nevertheless profit from success communication.