Existing research on factors informing public perceptions of expert trustworthiness was largely conducted during stable periods and in long-established Western liberal democracies. This article asks whether the same apply a major health crisis relatively new Drawing 120 interviews diaries first wave COVID-19 pandemic Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, we identify two additional not acknowledged existing research, namely personal contact with experts experts’ independence from political...

Existing research on media and the COVID-19 pandemic is largely based quantitative data, focused digital media, limited to single-country studies, often West-centred. As such, it has capacity provide a holistic account of causes consequences audience engagement with news, or consider impact systemic political factors. To compensate for that, we examine large set qualitative interviews diaries collected in four eastern European countries during first wave pandemic. We show that changes news...

In recent years, links between selective news exposure and political polarisation have attracted considerable attention among communication scholars. However, while the existence of has been documented in both offline online environments, evidence its extent impact on is far from unanimous. To address these questions, also to bridge methodological geographical gaps existing research, this paper adopts a media repertoires approach investigate four Eastern European countries – Czech Republic,...

Over the past decade, rights of people whose sexual orientation does not conform to prevailing norms have become a divisive issue in many countries. Despite long tradition research on media and minorities, role these recent backlashes remains poorly understood. We argue that this is partly because work area often underpinned by simple, linear narrative unambiguously links visibility empowerment. highlight ambivalent impact mediated context elite-driven polarization, illiberalism low levels...

Existing research has shown that the media can influence public attitudes to immigration. The adoption of a mixed-methods approach audiences immigration news, combined with comparative design and focus on Eastern Europe – region scoring lowest in world terms migrant acceptance bring significant advances knowledge this area, leading more rounded understanding how come shape attitudes. To demonstrate this, we draw comparative, data set comprising representative population surveys (N = 4,092),...

Is there a relationship between story-telling and memorialisation in the construction of victim identities? This paper seeks to examine these questions shed light on cultural dynamics victimisation with reference examples from sociological theories late modernity empirical research people who self-identify as victims. Using recent biographic interviews an asylum seeker fleeing conflict Gaza two Hungarian radical right activists, argument will be that identities are constructed reconstructed...

Abstract This essay examines the issue of migration in Hungary since 2015, focusing particular on way which Viktor Orbán and Fidesz government have mobilized populist fears a migrant invasion as key trope their efforts to construct an illiberal state, how wake COVID-19 pandemic crisis Afghanistan, they continued capitalize (mis)conceptions so-called lead-up 2022 elections. Beginning with description radical-right party, Orbán’s response summer 2015 concludes analysis official social media...

Far-right groups have increasingly been able use and weaponize the online space for activism, especially in regard to create radicalizing effects that lead political violence. This article explores how policing communities are treating far-right online, what strategies they’ve using, effect this has on activism. Using interviews with practitioners key in-depth case studies of U.K. Hungary, it finds overall is using more sophisticated tactics combat content. In future, research advocates...