References to nationality in crime reporting: Effects on perceived news credibility and the moderating role of xenophobia

Marlene Kunst

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2021-3-307

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 283–445 FULL PAPER 283–445
  - 283–306 Between protection and disclosure: applying the privacy calculus to investigate the intended use of privacy-protecting tools and self-disclosure on different websites Yannic Meier, Johanna Schäwel, Nicole C. Krämer Yannic Meier, Johanna Schäwel, Nicole C. Krämer 283–306
  - 307–325 References to nationality in crime reporting: Effects on perceived news credibility and the moderating role of xenophobia Marlene Kunst Marlene Kunst 307–325
  - 326–361 It’s still a thing: digital inequalities and their evolution in the information society Noemi Festic, Moritz Büchi, Michael Latzer Noemi Festic, Moritz Büchi, Michael Latzer 326–361
  - 362–405 Ikonografien des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs: Symbolbilder in Presseartikeln und Präventionsmaterialien Nicola Döring, Roberto Walter Nicola Döring, Roberto Walter 362–405
  - 406–445 Einheitsbilder: Der mediale Diskurs in Südkorea und Deutschland über nationale Einheit. Eine Fallstudie zur Formation transnationaler Öffentlichkeiten Lars Rinsdorf, Petra Werner, Hwa-Haeng Lee Lars Rinsdorf, Petra Werner, Hwa-Haeng Lee 406–445
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY-NC-ND Access

SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 307 - 325

References to nationality in crime reporting: Effects on perceived news credibility and the moderating role of xenophobia

Autoren

Marlene Kunst

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2021-3-307
- ISSN: 2192-4007
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

In many Western countries, right-wing populists have accused mainstream media of disguising criminals’ foreign origins for the sake of political correctness. To avert a loss in credibility among certain audience segments, an increasing number of news media have therefore made it their policy to always report the nationality of perpetrators. Yet, whether references to nationality or the absence thereof affect credibility perceptions among audiences has not been empirically established. A between-subjects experimental study (N = 261) was conducted in Germany to fill this gap. The findings show that the effect of references to nationality on credibility perceptions depends substantially on news consumers’ pre-existing social attitudes. Among xenophobic participants, references to perpetrators as foreign citizens enhanced perceptions of media credibility; the opposite tended to be true for participants with low xenophobia. Practical implications for news practitioners and avenues for future research are discussed.
Share