Cultural Convergence: Intergroup Bias Among Journalists and its Impact on Convergence

A survey of 189 print and broadcast journalists (N = 189) assessed whether journalists possess characteristics of groups in an intergroup-bias dynamic. Journalists demonstrated roots of bias by rating their own medium and career choices significantly higher than those of their outgroup. The participants also rated a convergence plan more positively when they perceived it to have been created by members of their ingroup as opposed to their outgroup. Additionally, journalists were more positive toward the group that created the plan if they perceived the group not to be comprised solely of outgroup members. They were also less positive toward the plan and the group that created it if the plan were to be implemented in their own newsroom. Implications for convergence and intergroup bias are discussed.