Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sophie Lecheler
Professor of Communication Science
Main Research Areas
- Political Communication
- Digital Journalism
- Technology and Politics
- Emotions
- Framing
- News Processing
- Experimental Research
Sophie Lecheler is Professor of Communication Science with a focus on Political Communication at the Department of Communication at the University of Vienna.
She previously worked at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) at the University of Amsterdam as an Associate Professor. Sophie holds a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, and master's degrees from the University of Munich (Germany) and the University of Cambridge (UK). She also previously worked as a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Her work has been published in a wide range of international journals, such as Communication Research, Journal of Communication, New Media & Society, Journalism Studies, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Media Psychology, International Journal of Public Opinion Research, Journalism, Communication Monographs, Communication Yearbook, and the International Journal of Press/Politics.
Publications
2026
de Haan, Y., Goutier, N., Kruikemeier, S., & Lecheler, S. (2026). Google as journalists’ invisible research assistant? The impact of algorithmically-driven search results in journalistic information gathering routines. Journalism Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2026.2695135
de Haan, Y., Kruikemeier, S., de Bruin, K., Lecheler, S., & Goutier, N. (2026). Immersive stories: The effect of inclusion, narrative, and interaction in journalism. Journalism Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2026.2695281
Greber, H., Strömbäck, J., & Lecheler, S. (2026). The shadow side of empathy? Eliciting empathy in journalism and its potentially unintended side-effects on polarization. Journalism. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849261455957
Haberl, M., Hokamp, D., Urbániková, M., Waschková Císařová, L., Hanusch, F., & Lecheler, S. (2026). (In)visible bonds: Towards a dynamic conceptualisation of emotion in journalist- politician relationships. Journalism. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849261443681
Roney, C., Egelhofer, J. L., & Lecheler, S. (2026). The “bread and butter” of science: Understanding how scientists communicate uncertainties. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13, Article 666. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07026-0
Lecheler, S., & Schäfer, S. (2026). Framing processes in media use. In H. Schramm, V. Gehrau, H. Bilandzic, & C. Wünsch (Eds.), Handbook of media use (pp. 233–250). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlag. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748962519
Kermani, H., Neyazi, T. A., & Lecheler, S. (2026). The limits of computational propaganda: Investigating underexplored platforms and contexts. Political Communication, 43(1), 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2025.2595596
2025
Lecheler, S. (2025). Journalistic Sources. In A. Nai, M. Grömping, & D. Wirz (Eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Political Communication (pp. 339–342). Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035301447.vol2.00083
Weikmann, T., Egelhofer, J., & Lecheler, S. (2025). Beyond Credibility: The Effects of Different Forms of Visual Disinformation. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 102(4), 1020 - 1043. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990251357299
Minihold, S., Lecheler, S., de Vreese, C., & Kruikemeier, S. (2025). Exploring digital campaign competence: the role of knowledge in data-driven election campaigns. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 22(4), 463–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2024.2416012
Conference Presentations
Performative reasoning: The strategic use of epistemic authority in parliamentary debates
Trust Me, I Cite Science: How Political Communication Drawing on Science Affects Message Credibility and Communicator Trustworthiness
Trust Me, I Cite Science: How Political Communication Drawing on Science Affects Message Credibility
Feeling the Right Thing: Austrian Politicians and their Constant Struggle Over Emotional Capital
How can YOU stay safe on social media?
Science on the Political Stage: Analyzing Representations of Science in Austrian Parliamentary Discourse
Like Walking a Tightrope: User-Centric Perspectives on Automated Content Moderation
Countering or Deleting Incivility? How User Attitudes Shape Content Moderation Perceptions and Effects
Between algorithms and autonomy: Exploring user preferences of tailored content moderation
Gender, influence, and the emotional underpinnings of journalist-politician interactions
Master Exams
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AKTUELLE INFORMATION: Sophie Lecheler kann aufgrund eines Sabbaticals keine Zweitprüfungen im Wintersemester 2026/27 übernehmen!
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Zur Ablegung der mündlichen Prüfung bei Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sophie Lecheler können Sie entweder das Prüfungsfach „Theoretische Vertiefung“ oder das Prüfungsfach „Methodische Vertiefung“ auswählen. Beachten Sie bei der Auswahl Ihrer Themen, dass diese nicht mit dem Thema der Masterarbeit deckungsgleich sein dürfen (z.B., wenn Sie in Ihrer Masterarbeit ein Experiment durchgeführt haben, bitte dieses Thema nicht wählen). Sie müssen keine zusätzliche Literatur recherchieren. Sie werden ausschließlich zu den angegebenen Texten geprüft. Alle Texte stehen online zur Verfügung und Sie können auf diese über Ihren Client-Zugang der Universität Wien zugreifen. Bei Fragen zur Literatur wenden Sie sich bitte an Claudia Koska.
Die Anmeldung zur Prüfung erfolgt per Mail an Sophie Lecheler und Claudia Koska. Bitte geben Sie bei der Anmeldung auch die gewählten Themen bekannt. Achtung: Zusätzlich müssen Sie sich auch bei der StudienServiceStelle anmelden.
Weitere Informationen und die komplette Literaturliste finden Sie hier.
Diese Literatur gilt für StudentInnen im deutschsprachigen Masterstudium.
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INFORMATION: Due to a Sabbatical, Sophie Lecheler is unable to serve as second examiner in the winter term 2026/27!
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If you are interested in Professor Lecheler being your 2nd examiner, please send a mail with your request to Claudia Koska.
Further Information and the complete literature list can be found here.
This topic list is relevant for students of the english-speaking Communication Science master program.