Right-wing alternative media users in Scandinavia

A comparative study of ideological attitudes and (dis)trust

Bibliographic Data

ID6443889
AuthorsKari Steen-Johnsen (Institute for Social Research, corresponding author), A Fladmoe (0000-0001-9668-7203, Institute for Social Research), Karoline Andrea Ihlebæk (0000-0003-3150-9005, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University)
Year2025
Volume46
Issue2
Pages217-249
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNordicom review/NORDICOM review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1403-1108 • E-ISSN: 2001-5119
PublisherDe Gruyter Open (PUBLISHER • PL)
DOI10.2478/nor-2025-0019
OpenAlexW7083462702
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited67

The emergence of right-wing alternative media has raised concerns about the diffusion of radical ideas among citizens and growing distrust in the media and public institutions. Based on representative surveys in Denmark ( n = 1,958), Norway ( n = 2,009), and Sweden ( n = 1,991), we examine what characterises right-wing alternative media users in terms of political attitudes and political, media, and social trust. The analysis reveals that right-wing alternative media users in Scandinavia tend to affiliate with far-right parties, support far-right ideas, and express lower levels of trust in political institutions, traditional media, and unknown others. Among these, support for far-right ideas and a lack of trust in traditional media are the most important characteristics. While support for far-right ideas characterises right-wing alternative media users in all three countries, low trust in traditional media is a more important characteristic in Norway and Sweden than in Denmark. The study advances knowledge of the role of ideology vis-à-vis various forms of (dis)trust among right-wing alternative media users, showing that while alternative media use across the Scandinavian countries displays a set of similarities, such use is also formed by national context

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