Jingszo !

A new sociological study offers a surprising take on the state of American news: Right-wing news media doesn't just sit on the opposite end of the political spectrum from mainstream outlets—it operates more like a religion than a traditional news source.

According to the researchers, these outlets:

• Promote a fixed worldview, treating sacred truths as more important than "mere facts"

• Build a strong sense of community around shared values rather than encouraging independent thinking among individuals

• Grow and change in ways that look more like religious movements than businesses

This shift in perspective helps explain why these platforms are influential and why many Americans are drawn to them. As the authors argue, "Right-wing news audiences are seeking (and getting) a lot more than fact or fiction when they tune into Fox News, NewsMax or the Daily Caller. Like church or temple, many Americans are now getting their beliefs, identity and sense of belonging from this media system."