Generational Gaps in Political Media Use and Civic Engagement: From Baby Boomers to Generation Z

This book investigates news use patterns among five different generations in a time where digital media create a multi-choice media environment.

The book introduces the EPIG Model (Engagement-Participation-Information-Generation) to study how different generational cohorts’ exposure to political information is related to their political engagement and participation. The authors build on a multi-method framework to determine direct and indirect media effects across generations. The unique dataset allows for comparison of effects between legacy and social media use and helps to disentangle the influence on citizens’ political involvement in nonelection as well as during political campaign times. Bringing the newly of-age Generation Z into the picture, the book presents an in-depth understanding of how a changing media environment presents different challenges and opportunities for political involvement of this, as well as older generations.

Bringing the conversation around political engagement and the media up to date for the new generation, this book will be of key importance to scholars and students in the areas of media studies, communication studies, technology, political science and political communication.

Kim Andersen is an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Journalism at the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark and Affiliated Researcher at the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Gothenburg.

Jakob Ohme is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) at the the University of Amsterdam

Camilla Bjarnøe is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Centre for Journalism at the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark

Mats Joe Bordacconi is an Analyst at the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark

Erik Albæk is a Professor in the Centre for Journalism at the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark

Claes de Vreese is Faculty Professor of AI and Democracy and Professor and Chair of Political Communication at the University of Amsterdam