Fields of vision.

Abstract One of today’s most controversial and consequential issues is whether the global uptake of digital media is causally related to a decline in democracy. We conducted a systematic review of causal and correlational evidence ( N = 496 articles) on the link between digital media use and different political variables. Some associations, such as increasing political participation and information consumption, are likely to be beneficial for democracy and were often observed in autocracies and emerging democracies. Other associations, such as declining political trust, increasing populism and growing polarization, are likely to be detrimental to democracy and were more pronounced in established democracies. While the impact of digital media on political systems depends on the specific variable and system in question, several variables show clear directions of associations. The evidence calls for research efforts and vigilance by governments and civil societies to better understand, design and regulate the interplay of digital media and democracy. 

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A systematic review of worldwide causal and correlational evidence on digital media and democracy

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of message fatigue and what makes people fatigued in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collected with a Qualtrics panel (N = 744) showed that both active (i.e., reactance) and passive (i.e., inattention) resistance in message processing mediated the relationships between message fatigue and intentions to follow three types of preventive behaviors against COVID-19 (i.e., wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands). The indirect effect of message fatigue on intention to seek COVID-19 information was explained by inattention but not reactance. Analyses of open-ended responses identified 18 types of COVID-related information that individuals were tired of hearing about. About 73.38% of participants (n = 546) reported that they were tired of hearing about at least one type of information about COVID-19, with mask-wearing being the most frequently mentioned (21.91%). The results extend existing research on message fatigue-evoked resistance to persuasion and provide practical implications for public health message design.

COVID-19 Message Fatigue: How Does It Predict Preventive Behavioral Intentions and What Types of Information are People Tired of Hearing About?

In the digital age, many people are concerned about how Public Service Media (PSM) will be able to fulfill their remits and promote “cultural citizenship” through sports journalism Delivering dive

/pdf/exploring-agenda-diversity-in-european-public-service-media-152bxklc4g.pdf

Exploring agenda diversity in European public service media sports desks: a comparative study of underrepresented disciplines, sportswomen and disabled athletes’ coverage on Twitter


 In the last two decades, communication research dedicated substantial attention to the effects of incidental exposure (IE) to political information. In this meta-analysis, we analyzed the relationship of IE and five outcomes relevant for democracies. Including 106 distinct samples with more than 100,000 respondents, we observed positive cross-sectional relationships between IE and news use, political knowledge, political participation, expressive engagement, and political discussion. These effects shrink substantially but remain significant for panel studies. While we found a stronger relationship with knowledge for experiments compared to surveys, the relationship between IE and discussion and participation was not significant for experiments. Overall, findings suggest that IE matters, but its effects are smaller and more nuanced than previously thought. Also, the effects of IE are strongest when there is congruence between the exposure setting and the outcome setting. We discuss theoretical and methodological implications for IE research and the field at large.

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Democratic Consequences of Incidental Exposure to Political Information: A Meta-Analysis

This article deals with potential effects of incidental online exposure to political information (IOEP) on the German electorate during the 2017 national election campaign. We argue that the differ...

From incidental exposure to intentional avoidance: Psychological reactance to political communication during the 2017 German national election campaign:

Covering sport mega events is a pivotal strategy for public service broadcasting (PSB) to claim audience support and public legitimacy However, these mega events are subject to considerable contro

Pero Dosenovic

Papers

From incidental exposure to intentional avoidance: Psychological reactance to political communication during the 2017 German national election campaign:

Double Crisis: Sport Mega Events and the Future of Public Service Broadcasting: