TALK RADIO - PREDICTORS OF USE AND EFFECTS ON ATTITUDES ABOUT GOVERNMENT

Early studies portrayed the talk radio listener, and the caller in par ticular, as more alienated and less politically and socially active. T he research here, using national survey data,finds that the portrait o f the talk radio audience has changed to one move positive in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and political participation. Howeve r, talk radio is also found to be associated with a number of negative political factors such as cynicism about government, lower perception s of government's responsiveness to citizen needs, and more extreme at titudes. The differences between nonlisteners, listeners, and callers are discussed.