News media don’t just report facts—they construct moral worlds. These moral framings shape public perception, reinforce echo chambers, and drive polarization. In this study, we provide the first large-scale mapping of moral value networks in U.S. election coverage, using GDELT data from August 5 to November 5, 2024. By analyzing how entities are cast as virtuous or harmful, we uncover two striking dynamics: (1) news outlets cluster according to their moral portrayals of entities, and (2) within the resulting networks, hubs emerge as political actors while authorities signify core moral values. Outlets may share the same actors, but their divergent authorities—rooted in distinct moral foundations—reshape those actors into opposing moral figures. This work introduces a new framework for understanding how competing moral narratives fuel media polarization during critical democratic moments.

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Hubs, Authorities and Moral Framing in Media

  • Egemen Sert,
  • Şeyda Ertekin

摘要

News media don’t just report facts—they construct moral worlds. These moral framings shape public perception, reinforce echo chambers, and drive polarization. In this study, we provide the first large-scale mapping of moral value networks in U.S. election coverage, using GDELT data from August 5 to November 5, 2024. By analyzing how entities are cast as virtuous or harmful, we uncover two striking dynamics: (1) news outlets cluster according to their moral portrayals of entities, and (2) within the resulting networks, hubs emerge as political actors while authorities signify core moral values. Outlets may share the same actors, but their divergent authorities—rooted in distinct moral foundations—reshape those actors into opposing moral figures. This work introduces a new framework for understanding how competing moral narratives fuel media polarization during critical democratic moments.