The Effects of Government Censorship of War-Related News Coverage on Interest in the Censored Coverage: A Test of Competing Theories

Abstract

Using experimental data from a split-ballot survey conducted just after the 2004 U.S. presidential election, we tested competing predictions from reactance and balance theories on the effect of government censorship of images of ceremonies that include caskets containing dead U.S. soldiers on interest in viewing such images. In contrast to the reactance theory prediction that knowledge of the censorship should prompt increased interest in viewing the images, the effects of knowledge of the policy depended on attraction to George W. Bush, and sometimes knowledge of the policy prompted reduced interest in the photographs. Inconsistencies between the results and predictions derived from reactance and balance theories are resolved using a simple cognitive response model from the persuasion literature.

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