Analysing Media Trust Dynamics To Evaluate Depolarisation Strategies In The United States

Abstract

In an era marked by deepening ideological divides, political polarisation emerges as a dangerous threat to the unity and political cohesion of the United States. Political polarisation has reached alarming levels in the past few decades, where partisan divides tear apart the very fabric of society and inhibit governmental cooperation. Depolarisation strategies, which aim to reduce the extent of political polarisation, serve as a crucial step to ensuring the political integrity of the United States and fostering mutual understanding. However, implementing depolarisation strategies presents unique challenges, due to their nuanced approach to freedom of speech and of the press, that differs significantly from other Western approaches.

This article explores how analysing media trust dynamics can inform actionable solutions to mitigate political polarisation in the United States. I first analyse survey results detailing media trust and consumption across a range of news sources, correlating these findings with respondents’ political affiliations to uncover patterns. Using multinomial logistic regression, I further quantify relationships and explore the nuanced interplay between media trust, media consumption and political lean. Within the context of my survey analysis, I then evaluate mitigation strategies for political polarisation, arguing that reducing political polarisation in the United States requires focusing on media trust divides that persist across partisan groups, rather than strategies targeting individuals.