A new special issue of Journalism Studies explores the phenomenon of news avoidance, featuring contributions from Nordic researchers and including a systematic review of existing research on the subject.
In recent years, news avoidance has emerged as a significant concern for both the public and the media industry. Media organisations face significant financial losses as audiences turn away from news. For the public, including researchers, there is growing fear that avoiding news may be diminishing knowledge and political engagement. As Kim Andersen from the University of Southern Denmark eloborates:
– News avoidance directly impacts democratic societies. When people consume less news, it can reduce their political knowledge and weaken the foundation of an informed citizenry. However, not all forms of news avoidance mean complete disconnection; many selectively avoid certain types of news, such as extensive negative coverage, to protect their mental well-being.
The latest special issue of Journalism Studies explores the complex subject, with contributions from Nordic researchers. It includes a systematic review of the existing research, conducted by guest editors Kim Andersen, Benjamin Toff, and Brita Ytre-Arne.
– Although academic research on news avoidance has significantly advanced our understanding of different experiences, there are still many unanswered questions. In the introduction to the special issue of the journal, we provide a systematic review of existing research to outline what we know, identify gaps in our knowledge, and illustrate the rapidly growing scholarly interest in the topic, says Ytre-Arne.
In addition to the literature review, the issue features contributions from other Nordic researchers. Erik Espeland from the University of Gothenburg examines how political interest and age affect the likelihood of avoiding traditional news media and whether these effects have changed over time. Meanwhile, Synnøve Skarbsø Lindtner and Torgeir Uberg Nærland from the University of Bergen analyse how everyday conditions of poverty influence news consumption in Norway’s “media welfare state”. Lindtner observes:
– Norway presents an intriguing case: Despite its extensive welfare system and minimal class differences, it has seen rising relative poverty and social marginalisation in recent decades. At the same time, Norway is known for its broad and equal access to news.
Nærland adds:
– We are happy to have contributed to the special issue. The combination of favourable conditions on one hand, and persistent inequalities on the other, not only provides valuable insight into the Norwegian context but also has potential relevance for understanding similar dynamics in other national contexts.
Several articles in the special issues are available Open Access.