This study investigates the role of the news media in shaping attitudes toward the protests of 2020. Using data from a nationally representative election survey, it examines the association between news consumption and support for law-and-order policies to address protest violence, with perceptions that the protesters were violent as a potential mediator. Findings indicate that viewers of online news are less likely to support law-and-order policies. This relationship is mediated by perceived protester violence, with perceived violence enhancing support for law-and-order policies. Further examination shows that political bias plays a role: viewers of left-leaning sites are less likely to support law-and-order policies to address protest violence, while viewers of right-leaning sites are more likely. These relationships are also mediated by perceived violence.

中文翻译：

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新闻媒体和公众对 2020 年抗议活动的态度：对感知到的抗议者暴力的中介作用的考察

本研究调查了新闻媒体在塑造对 2020 年抗议活动的态度方面的作用。使用来自全国代表性选举调查的数据，它研究了新闻消费与对解决抗议暴力的治安政策的支持之间的关联，以及看法抗议者作为潜在的调解人是暴力的。调查结果表明，在线新闻的观众不太可能支持治安政策。这种关系由感知到的抗议者暴力来调节，感知到的暴力增强了对法律和秩序政策的支持。进一步的研究表明，政治偏见发挥了作用：左倾网站的观众不太可能支持解决抗议暴力的法律和秩序政策，而右倾网站的观众则更有可能。