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The Media Returns to Political Power

Author

Listed:
  • Quentin LIPPMANN

    (Aix-Marseille School of Economics)

  • Adrien MONTALBO

    (IESEG School of Management, Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9221 - LEM - Lille Economie Management, F-59000 Lille, France)

Abstract

This paper estimates the causal effect of access to political power on media coverage. We collect data on media mentions of all the French ministers and parliamentarians from 1996 to 2022. Using a large language model and a difference-in-differences strategy, we show that entering government leads to a sharp increase in media attention, but also improves the favorability of coverage. We provide evidence that favorability gains are concentrated in access-driven stories, consistent with a mechanism of informational dependence between the media and political elites. Finally, we show that women experience gains in attention and favorability comparable to those of men, yet face more stereotyped treatment at appointment. The results suggest a soft form of media capture with implications for accountability and representational inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Quentin LIPPMANN & Adrien MONTALBO, 2026. "The Media Returns to Political Power," Working Papers 2026-iFlame-04, IESEG School of Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:ies:wpaper:e202602
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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