Mistake or Manipulation? Conceptualizing Perceived Mis- and Disinformation among News Consumers in 10 European Countries. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hameleers, Michael; Brosius, Anna; Marquart, Franziska; Goldberg, Andreas C.; van Elsas, Erika; de Vreese, Claes H.
• Is Part Of: Communication research. Volume 49:Number 7(2022)
• Page Start: 919
• Page End: 941
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: disinformation -- media trust -- misinformation -- populism -- populist attitudes -- hostile media perceptions; Communication -- Research -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0093650221997719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-6502

Abstract

In the midst of heated debates surrounding the veracity and honesty of communication, scholarly attention has turned to the conceptualization of mis- and disinformation on the supply-side of (political) communication. Yet, we lack systematic research on the conceptualization of perceived mis- and disinformation on the demand-side. Original survey data collected in ten European countries ( N = 6, 643) shows that news consumers distinguish general misinformation from disinformation. Yet, the high correlation between the two dimensions indicates that disinformation perceptions may be regarded as a sub-type of misinformation perceptions in which intentional deception is a core element. This paper aims to make a contribution to the misinformation and media credibility literature by proposing a first conceptualization of perceived untruthfulness corresponding to increasing levels of cynicism and skepticism toward the factual status and honesty of information.