Research Note: Reciprocal Effects of Negative Press Reports

A B S T R A C T ■ The influence of negative press reports on their subjects was determined by means of a questionnaire answered by 91 persons who had complained about such reports to the Deutsche Presserat (German Press Council). The findings show that negative press reports have long-lasting emotional and social consequences, as perceived by the subjects. Plausible interactions exist between these consequences. There is a theoretical basis for attributing both types of consequences to certain characteristics of the reports. ■