News Use, Political Knowledge, and Misperceptions in 18 Countries Across the Global Nort

The established idea that people learn about politics and relevant societal issues via the news media can be put into question because of a 'twin challenge of increased media choice.' First, there is a growing number of people who choose to avoid most news which leaves them uninformed about what is happening in politics and society. Second, people may form their beliefs based on false and misleading information, leading them to become misinformed about current political issues. This Element investigated both challenges based on data from a large comparative survey in eighteen Western countries. Consistent with the existing literature, the results largely confirm the added value of staying informed through using traditional news media, the public broadcaster in particular. In contrast, consuming news from newer media sources such as social media and messaging apps is typically associated across countries with less knowledge and more misperceptions about political matters.

Product details

• Authors: Peter Van Aelst, Luisa Gehle, Christian Schemer, Jesper Strömbäck, Alon Zoizner, Peter Van (University of Antwerp) Gehle Aelst
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 31.03.2026
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature > Essays, feuilletons, literary criticism, interview; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education
• EAN: 9781009632478
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0963247-8
• Pages: 108
• Series: Elements in Politics and Communication
• Subjects: Media Studies, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, Press & journalism, Digital lifestyle, Reportage & collected journalism, Comparative Politics, Disinformation and misinformation, Media studies: internet, digital media and society, News media and journalism, Reportage, journalism or collected columns, General studies and General knowledge, General studies