News Media Representations

News media serve as key sources of political information for the public. Historically, they have served as the predominant source of political information, although in the digital age, alternative sources, such as blogs and social media, have emerged to rival news media’s monopoly. Nonetheless, news media remain significant sources of political information and serve as central players within the networked flow of facts, opinions, and perspectives that shape the contours of public debate on social and political issues. Importantly, news media have served, alongside entertainment media, as a primary means through which the cisgender public has received information about trans issues and identities. As such, they have been key determinants of the cis public’s understanding of trans identity, as well as of their attitudes and ...