Before the emergence of social media, monitoring public perceptions relied primarily on newspaper articles and online news. Nowadays, communications professionals consider it crucial to engage with users and discussions on social media platforms, which accommodates a significant part of the public debate. Public institutions utilize online platforms as a means to communicate directly with citizens, which is particularly vital in times of crisis. Despite equipping their communications departments with media monitoring software, communications professionals still experience a difficulty to act, due to the cacophonic nature of social media. In this article, we report on a Dutch research project named Goed Gere(a)geerd, which studies the digitalization of communication work through discursive psychology, presenting initial practice-informed insights by end-users in relation to the framework of mediatization, datafication, and platformization. We argue that the rise of social media has not necessarily simplified the understanding of public perceptions within the broader public debate, yet has introduced both new opportunities and challenges. In light of these challenges, we propose that it could be beneficial to shift away from attempts to monitor every citizen's expression through increasingly expansive data systems, and instead focus on social interactions that carry a higher risk of escalation. To help prevent the escalation of issues online, or even offline, the communications professional could turn to the discursive psychological framework, which focuses on linguistic patterns indicative of a larger social context.
While much research on disinformation has focused on its impact on citizens, this study examines the experiences of those working to combat it. In 2025, disinformation experts-such as fact-checkers, media literacy experts, journalists, and academics-navigate a rapidly evolving information environment while facing severe challenges, including frequent exposure to disturbing content and harassment. By an expert survey (N = 83) within members of a disinformation network (BENEDMO) in Flanders and the Netherlands, we examine how these challenges are perceived by disinformation experts, assessing prevalence and impact. Results indicate that both harassment and exposure to disturbing content are commonly experienced when working with disinformation. While online threats were associated with lower job wellbeing, general exposure did not significantly affect it. Experiencing harassment seems particularly prevalent among fact-checkers. Amid cutbacks in content moderation by platforms, these findings highlight the need to address the specific challenges faced by disinformation experts.
This research (2020-2025) examines the growing phenomenon of news avoidance and its implications for informed citizenship, individual well-being, civic engagement, and the role of journalism in today's high-choice media environment from an audience-centred perspective. While news consumption is traditionally viewed as essential for an informed and engaged public, increasing numbers of people deliberately avoid the news. This trend raises important questions about how citizens stay informed and participate in society. Across five studies using diverse approaches and methods, this research first conceptualizes and defines news avoidance and its characteristics; investigates its drivers, manifestations, and dynamics; and mapped its consequences for how people remain informed, well-being, and societal engagement. The findings show that news avoidance is not inherently problematic nor indicative of complete disengagement, but rather a response to an information-saturated digital environment.
From overload to balance: the role of constructive journalism in news for Journalism should provide a reliable and accessible foundation from which young adults can form opinions, make well-considered decisions, and get tools to participate in society. Research shows that young people are critical towards the way news is presented, resulting in disengagement. Literature suggests that constructive journalism could answer this criticism. To gain insight into how young adults (18-25 years old) evaluate news and whether a constructive approach meets their needs, eight focus groups were held. Results show that young adults mostly seek a balance in response to the negativity bias, the constant repetition in the news and a lack of personal connection. Additionally, a constructive approach, which not only focuses on the problem, but also pays attention to the diversity of perspectives, possible solutions and actionability, led to positive responses. By using these constructive elements, news organizations have the opportunity to create a better connection with this audience.
As of 2016 Dutch 'hen' and 'die' have been recognized as the preferred pronouns for Dutch speaking non-binary individuals. The use of gender-neutral language supports a more inclusive society for the LGBTQIA+ community. Used in news media, it may increase quality and legitimacy of journalism. However, the use of inclusive language should also be accepted by the public. This study therefore assesses the impact of inclusive language in Dutch news texts on readers' attitudes and cognitions. In an experiment, the effects of using gender-neutral pronouns ('hen/hun' and'die/diens') on comprehensibility, perceived awkwardness, appreciation and recall have been measured. Each participant (N = 296) saw two news reports in the same experimental condition, determined by the factors gender neutrality, mentioning gender explicitly (cueing), and lexical markedness of the specific pronouns. The results show that gender-neutral pronouns negatively affect all dependent variables, including a mediation effect of perceived awkwardness. Despite the importance of using inclusive language in news media, audience acceptance will not immediately be established.
Corporations increasingly engage with LGBTQIA+ topics through corporate social advocacy. For CSA to be authentic, messages and actions must be consistent with corporate values, as misalignment can fuel allegations of pinkwashing and alienate stakeholders. While existing CSA research focuses on external perceptions, understanding employee perceptions of authenticity provides an internal perspective thanks to their intimate understanding of corporate values and proximity to observe internal behaviours. Employee perceptions of authenticity and pinkwashing at HEMA were studied via 12 semi-structured interviews using theoretical thematic analysis. Their experiences allow us to answer how employees perceive authenticity in their company's LGBTQIA+ CSA. Findings underscore how authenticity demands consistency, in which behaviour and communication align, internally and externally, and over time. CSA campaigns embedded with corporate values are less likely to face pinkwashing allegations when employees engage in sensemaking with one another. These perceptions differ based on employee proximity to advocacy and other factors.
Mechanisms behind online sports betting and problematic gambling behavior among Flemish youth: An integration of the reasoned action approach and self-determination theory This study investigates the mechanisms underlying online sports betting and problematic gambling behaviour among Flemish youth through the integration of the reasoned action approach (RAA) and self-determination theory (SDT). Using cross-sectional data from a survey among 1,290 youths (aged 18-25) in Flanders, analysed via structural equation modeling, the study examines the relationship between attitudes, perceived normative pressure, and perceived behavioural control (RAA) and online sports gambling behaviour, as well as the relationship between psychological basic needs (SDT) and problematic gambling behaviour. Results indicate that a strong instrumental attitude and increased normative pressure enhance the intention to engage in sports betting, whereas higher behavioural control exerts an inhibitory effect. This intention is strongly associated with online sports gambling, which in turn is the primary predictor of problematic gambling behaviour. Furthermore, analyses reveal mixed associations with psychological basic needs: within the peer context, increased frustration regarding connectedness leads to less problematic behaviour, and both higher competence satisfaction and frustration elevate risk, whereas in a school or work context, higher competence satisfaction appears protective.
When a large media market shares a language with a smaller neighboring country, it might be expected that media from the larger country will 'flow' into the smaller one. In the latter, the costs of creating media products cannot be offset by a large population, while penetrating the smaller country may only incur marginal costs for media companies based in the larger country. This article examines foreign media consumption patterns in Belgium's two main language communities (Flemish and French) and demonstrates that the 'overflow' situation does not apply uniformly or automatically. After assessing the differences between Flanders (fairly impervious to Dutch media) and French-speaking Belgium (much more permeable to French media), we introduce and discuss the concept of 'media robustness' as a result of the complex historical and cultural evolution of the Flemish media system, in which the importance of the language factor must be understood as one of many factors.
This multi-method qualitative study examined exposure to and attitudes toward gambling advertisements among Flemish adolescents, alongside the normalization of gambling in their lives. Twenty Flemish adolescents (ages 15-18) submitted photos and screenshots of gambling ads over a two-week diary study, followed by in-depth interviews. Most of the advertisements were online ads, mainly referring to sports betting. Attitudes were neutral to negative: participants agreed that minors should not be exposed to gambling ads, although opinions on stricter restrictions were divided. Four dimensions from the normalization theory (Parker et al., 2002) emerged: access and availability, intention, recent and regular use, and cultural accommodation. There was no consensus regarding social accommodation: some participants were aware of others who had gambled, sometimes even copying this behavior, while others found gambling unacceptable. Peers, siblings, and parents played a role in this: either by disapproving of gambling or setting an example, by gambling themselves.
Liveblogs have emerged as a significant journalistic format, providing real-time updates and information about evolving events in times of acute and prolonged crises. This study investigates the motives behind the use of liveblogs, focusing on the COVID-19 crisis. The use of media in general and liveblogs in particular draws on the reduction of uncertainty theory and habit formation theory to understand the surge in news consumption and news avoidance. A survey conducted in the Netherlands during the first three months of the pandemic reveals that liveblogs were initially popular due to their immediacy, reliability, and comprehensibility. However, their usage declined over time, indicating a shift in news consumption patterns. The study finds that liveblog users are typically highly educated and have a strong need to stay informed, often driven by pre-existing news habits. These findings contribute to the understanding of media use during prolonged crises like COVID-19 and highlight the complex interplay between rational information-seeking behavior and habitual media consumption.
