The hostility of media coverage of national projects and its relationship to the presumed influence on others and corrective actions

This study aims to test the hostile media phenomenon in terms of the factors affecting it, and its consequences, by applying it to the media coverage of national projects. The study relies on a survey method; the data was collected through a quota sample of 400 participants from Cairo Governorate. The study uses a statistical analysis model known as SEM (structural equation modeling) and its most important tool - path analysis, to explain the causal relationships between the variables related to the hostile media perception. This study reveals several important results, where it was found that there is a direct significant positive effect of several variables on the perception of the hostility of media coverage of national projects. These variables are: receiving information about national projects through the media and interpersonal communication, positive attitudes, negative attitudes and negative affective involvement towards these projects. This analysis also determines a direct significant positive effect of this perceived media hostility on willingness to speak up about national projects as a corrective action to counter hostility and coverage bias. Furthermore, it was found that there is an indirect effect of perceived media coverage hostility on the willingness to speak up about national projects through the variables of presumed influence of media coverage on others and external political efficacy, which confirms the mediating role of these two variables.