Media involvement and local news effects

This study considered the influence of cognitive and emotional involvement on two local news effects: information holding and parasocial interaction with a local newscaster. Adult local news viewers (N = 305) completed questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that local news information holding was explained by lower levels of local news affinity and entertainment viewing motive, higher levels of information viewing motive, and more elaboration on news stories. Parasocial interaction was predicted by higher levels of news realism, less recognition of news, and feeling happy while watching the news.