Standing With and Apart: Media Professionals’ Social Media Contributions to the Civil Sphere During the Fall of #Roe

Abstract

Using content analysis, this study examined over 5,500 posts by media professionals discussing the Roe V. Wade leak and decision in the summer of 2022. Focusing on posting behavior, role, and outlet size, findings show that media professionals often expressed opinions, contradicting objectivity norms. Influencer status, job role (producers, writers, contributors), and outlet size significantly impacted posting behaviors, with major outlets showing more informational posts and less opinion than smaller outlets. Influencer status was also shown to mediate both informational and opinion posting, with higher status resulting in more informational posts and lower status resulting in more opinion posts.