Research
Explore the core research areas of the Political Communication Research Group at the University of Vienna, Austria. Our research investigates how political elites, media organizations, and citizens interact in society, with a focus on digital technologies, diversity of voices, science communication, and the quality of political journalism. Through qualitative, quantitative, and computational social science methods, our Vienna-based team develops evidence-based insights to understand and advance political communication theory and practice.
AI and Digital Technologies in Political Communication
This research area explores the role of AI and digital tools in shaping modern political discourse, with a current focus on automated content moderation, computational propaganda, and data-driven election campaigns. This research investigates both the benefits and ethical challenges of AI, including issues of digital humanism and the need for AI literacy, especially among young people navigating online political spaces. Key projects aim to promote responsible and transparent use of AI in fostering informed political engagement.
Researchers affiliated with this area:
Diversity of Voices in Political Communication
This research area explores how gender, intersectionality, and social identity shape political messaging and audience perceptions, aiming to uncover diverse perspectives within political discourses. It investigates differential media effects, particularly how factors like incivility impact engagement and opinion formation across varied demographic groups.
Researchers affiliated with this area:
The Politics of Science Communication
This research area delves into the complex role of scientific evidence within political debates, examining how scientific uncertainty and politicized science can influence public opinion and policy. We also address the spread of misinformation in science communication, particularly within digital platforms, and explore "third mission" activities where scientific institutions engage directly with the public to bridge knowledge gaps. Affiliated researchers aim to enhance transparency and trust in science by improving how scientific information is communicated and understood in political contexts.
Researchers affiliated with this area:
Quality of Political Communication and Political Journalism
This research area examines how factors such as misinformation and polarization affect public engagement with news and political discourse. This field also studies how incivility and emotive content influence the news, as well as perceptions of credibility and democratic participation. Researchers and projects in this area currently work to understand and address challenges to media integrity and public trust in political journalism, such as emotionality and news avoidance.
Researcher affiliated with this area:
Publications
2023
Kruikemeier, S., Lecheler, S., & Vliegenthart, R. (2023). What is holding us back? We should be looking ahead! Considerations about open science practices in journalism studies. Digital Journalism, 11(2), 384-389. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2116722
2022
Egelhofer, J. L., Boyer, M. M., Lecheler, S., & Aaldering, L. (2022). Populist attitudes and politicians' disinformation accusations: Effects on perceptions of media and politicians. Journal of Communication, 72(6), 619–632. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqac031
Matthes, J., Hirsch, M., Stubenvoll, M., Binder, A., Kruikemeier, S., Lecheler, S., & Otto, L. P. (2022). Understanding the democratic role of perceived online political micro-targeting: Longitudinal effects on trust in democracy and political interest. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 19(4), 435-448. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2021.2016542
Galyga, S., Litvyak, O., Balluff, P., Eberl, J.-M., Rettenegger, G., Egelhofer, J. L., Aaldering, L., Lecheler, S., Müller, W. C., Kritzinger, S., & Boomgaarden, H. (2022). AUTNES Manual Content Analysis of the Media Coverage 2017 (SUF edition): Version 2.0. Software or database
Reifegerste, D., Wilhelm, C., & Riesmeyer, C. (2022). How to tell the kids? Parental crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies in Communication Sciences, 22(1), 223-231. https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2022.01.3010
Boyer, M. M., Aaldering, L., & Lecheler, S. (2022). Motivated Reasoning in Identity Politics: Group Status as a Moderator of Political Motivations. Political Studies, 70(2), 385-401. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720964667
Lecheler, S., & Egelhofer, J. L. (2022). Disinformation, Misinformation, and Fake News: Understanding the Supply Side. In J. Strömbäck, Å. Wikforss, K. Glüer, T. Lindholm, & H. Oscarsson (Eds.), Knowledge Resistance in High-Choice Information Environments (pp. 69-87). Routledge.
de Haan, Y., van den Berg, E., Goutier, N., Kruikemeier, S., & Lecheler, S. (2022). Invisible friend or foe? How journalists use and perceive algorithmic-driven tools in their research process. Digital Journalism, 10(10), 1775-1793. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2027798
Wilhelm, C., Riesmeyer, C., & Reifegerste, D. (2022). Distanzlernen in der Krise aus Sicht der Eltern: Lektionen aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Ein Werkstattbericht. Medien Journal: Zeitschrift für Kommunikationskultur, 45(3), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.24989/medienjournal.v45i3.2041
Lecheler, S., Jaidka, K., Zhou, A., Lelkes, Y., & Egelhofer, J. L. (2022). Beyond Anonymity: Network Affordances, under Deindividuation, Improve Social Media Discussion Quality. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 27(1), Article zmab019. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmab019
Riesmeyer, C., Wilhelm, C., & Reifegerste, D. (2022). Die Mischung macht‘s: Elterliche Mediationsstrategien der kindlichen Mediennutzung während der Corona-Pandemie. MedienPädagogik. Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung, (46), 24-50. https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/46/2022.01.13.X
Kermani, H. (2022). Populist discourse and the resulting discontent in hybrid regimes: An examination of Rouhani’s rhetoric in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Political Research Exchange, 4(1), Article 2081585. https://doi.org/10.1080/2474736X.2022.2081585
Haberl, M. (2022). Präsenz durch Technologie. Präsenz der Technologie: Vom Reden übers Da-Sein und den Umgang mit den Dingen: Videokonferenzen im postphänomenologischen Blick. . Web publication, Institut für Europäische Ethnologie, Universität Wien.
Greber, H. (2022). Taking stock: Virtual reality in journalism. In J. Frith, & M. Saker (Eds.), The changing face of VR: Pushing the boundaries of experience across multiple industries (pp. 51-65). Vernon Press.
Haberl, M. (2022). Was ist (zu) Tun? Epistemologische Umwälzungen und die Weiterentwicklung qualitativer Forschungsmethoden.. Web publication, Institut für Europäische Ethnologie, Universität Wien.
Haberl, M. (2022). Workshop "Taktgeber": Volkstanz als gesammeltes Wissen und temporale Praxis, Innsbruck, 30. Juni 2021. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Volkskunde, LXXVII/125(2022, H. 1), 103-106.
2021
Lecheler, S., Goutier, N., de Haan, Y., de Bruin, K., & Kruikemeier, S. (2021). From "Cool Observer" to "Emotional Participant": The Practice of Immersive Journalism. Journalism Studies, 22(12), 1648-1664. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2021.1956364
Greber, H., Lecheler, S., Aaldering, L., de Haan, Y., Kruikemeier, S., Goutier, N., & de Bruin, K. (2021). Die Wahrnehmung von immersivem Journalismus. Paper presented at Jahrestagung 2021 der DGPuk-Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung, München, Germany.
Boyer, M. M., Schäfer, S., Rebasso, I., & Planitzer, A. M. (2021). Hate Speech as Fuel for Stereotype Polarization: Differential Effects of Online Hate Speech and Counter Speech. Paper presented at 2021 APSA Annual Meeting, Seattle, United States.
Greber, H., Lecheler, S., & Aaldering, L. (2021). Putting the audience back into audience-centered journalism: The worthwhileness of immersive journalism. Paper presented at Future of Journalism Conference, United Kingdom.
Weikmann, T., & Lecheler, S. (2021). Visual Disinformation in a Digital Age: A Literature Synthesis and Research Agenda. Paper presented at 2021 Conference of The International Journal of Press/Politics Virtual Conference, Unknown.
Wilhelm, C. (2021). Gendered (in)visibility in digital media contexts. Studies in Communication Sciences, 21(1), 99–113. https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2021.01.007
Wilhelm, C., Stehle, H., & Detel, H. (2021). Digital visibility and the role of mutual interaction expectations: Reframing the journalist–audience relationship through the lens of interpersonal communication. New Media and Society, 23(5), 1004-1021. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820907023
Lecheler, S., & Egelhofer, J. L. (2021). Consumption of misinformation and disinformation. In H. Tumber, & S. Waisbord (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Media Disinformation and Populism (1 ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003004431
Egelhofer, J. L., Aaldering, L., & Lecheler, S. (2021). Delegitimizing the media? Analyzing politicians’ media criticism on social media. Journal of Language and Politics, 20(5), 653-675. https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.20081.ege
Schäfer, S., Betakova, D., Aaldering, L., & Lecheler, S. (2021). Opting out of News: News avoidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria. Medien Journal: Zeitschrift für Kommunikationskultur, 45(3), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.24989/medienjournal.v45i3.2039
Haberl, M. (2021). Sichten in Schichten: Die (ein)geschriebene Frühstückspension. Web publication, Institut für Europäische Ethnologie, Universität Wien.
Haberl, M. (2021). Theorien, Politiken und Praktiken des Wohnens. In Jahresbericht 2020/2021 (Vol. 28/29, pp. 35-38).
2020
Lecheler, S. (2020). Dan, Viorela: Integrative framing analysis: framing health through words and visuals. Publizistik: Vierteljahreshefte für Kommunikationsforschung, 65, 663-664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11616-020-00604-5
Hokamp, D. (2020). Nationalisten in transnationalen Netzwerken: Eine Netzwerkanalyse transnationaler Beziehungen von rechtspopulistischen Akteuren in Europa auf Twitter . Global Media Journal - German Edition, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.22032/dbt.44939
Wilhelm, C., Joeckel, S., & Ziegler, I. (2020). Reporting Hate Comments: Investigating the Effects of Deviance Characteristics, Neutralization Strategies, and Users’ Moral Orientation. Communication Research, 47(6), 921-944. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650219855330
Lecheler, S., & Aaldering, L. (2020). Der ganz persönliche Kampf gegen die Infodemie: Nachrichtenvermeidung während der Corona-Krise: Corona-Blog 48. Web publication
de Bruin, K., de Haan, Y., Kruikemeier, S., Lecheler, S., & Goutier, N. (2020). A first-person promise? A content-analysis of immersive journalistic productions. Journalism, 23(2), 479-498. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920922006
Lecheler, S., de Haan, Y., & Kruikemeier, S. (2020). Introduction to the Special Issue: Meeting the Digital Demand through a Multi-Perspective Methodological Approach. Journalism Studies, 21(7), 857-862. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1752290, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1752290
Wilhelm, C. (2020). Investigating Neutralization Strategies in Digital Piracy: The Role of Content Preferences and Social Norms. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 64(2), 320-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2020.1724008
Aaldering, L., Egelhofer, J. L., & Lecheler, S. (2020). Nieuwe uitdagingen voor de journalistiek in het tijdperk van nepnieuws. In J. De Ridder, R. Vliegenthart, & J. Zuure (Eds.), Doen, durven of de waarheid? Democratie in digitale tijden (pp. 87-103). University Press.
Egelhofer, J. L., Aaldering, L., Eberl, J.-M., Galyga, S., & Lecheler, S. (2020). From Novelty to Normalization? How Journalists Use the Term “Fake News” in their Reporting. Journalism Studies, 21(10), 1323-1343. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1745667
Otto, L. P., Lecheler, S., & Schuck, A. R. T. (2020). Is Context the Key? The (non-)differential effects of mediated incivility in three European countries. Political Communication, 37(1), 88-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2019.1663324
Metz, M., Kruikemeier, S., & Lecheler, S. (2020). Personalization of politics on Facebook: examining the content and effects of professional, emotional and private self-personalization. Information, Communication and Society, 23(10), 1481-1498. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1581244
Chen, V. H. H., Wilhelm, C., & Joeckel, S. (2020). Relating video game exposure, sensation seeking, aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance. Behavior and Information Technology, 39(9), 957-969. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2019.1634762