How Right-Wing Extremists Use and Perceive News Media. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baugut, Philip; Neumann, Katharina
• Is Part Of: Journalism & mass communication quarterly. Volume 96:Number 3(2019:Sep.)
• Page Start: 696
• Page End: 720
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: media effects -- right-wing extremism -- qualitative interviews -- reciprocal effects -- hostile media; Journalism -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; Journalism -- United States -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 070
• DOI: 10.1177/1077699018803080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-6990

Abstract

We investigate how right-wing extremists use, perceive, and try to provoke news media coverage. Findings from qualitative interviews with former leaders of right-wing extremist groups in Germany, who served as key informants, show that reports on right-wing extremism are used and trigger feelings of being personally affected. Consequently, right-wing extremists show hostile-media and third-person perceptions. These perceptions influence both emotions and behaviors among right-wing extremists, for example, they cause right-wing leaders to strategically monitor news media to exploit them for political goals. Our findings are presented along with a model and are accompanied by a discussion of the implications for responsible journalism.