Addressing a Blind Spot in Selective Exposure Research

Perceptions of Media Bias and Their Effects on Mainstream Media Use. A Mediation Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID12977657
AuthorsJesper Strömbäck (0000-0001-7392-9791, University of Gothenburg, corresponding author), Sofia Johansson (0000-0002-6847-7193, University of Gothenburg), Elena Broda (0009-0008-2708-735X, University of Gothenburg), Erik Espeland (0009-0005-0141-4998, University of Gothenburg), Hugo Ekström (0009-0001-8861-5725, University of Gothenburg)
Year2025
Publication date2025-05-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of Press/Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1940-1612 • E-ISSN: 1040-1620
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/19401612251337814
OpenAlexW4410507141
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited86

According to selective exposure theory, people tend to select news media that are perceived to provide attitude-consonant information and avoid those that are perceived to provide dissonant information. Despite this, research on selective exposure seldom takes people’s perceptions of media bias into account, while research on perceptions of media bias seldom links such perceptions to subsequent media use. To address this, the purpose of this study is to investigate perceptions of mainstream media bias and whether such perceptions mediate the effect of using political alternative media on subsequent mainstream media use. Empirically, the study utilizes a three-wave panel survey during the 2022 Swedish parliamentary election campaign to investigate perceptions of public service media bias and subsequent use of public service media. Among other things, the results show that the use of right-wing political alternative media influences perceptions of leftist public service bias, which in turn mediates the effect of using right-wing alternative media on subsequent public service media use

Blind spot · Mainstream · Media coverage · Media studies · Mediation · Perception · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access