During her stay, Dr. van der Goot will work on the project “Between criticism and complicity: how should journalists cover the uncivilized and misleading speeches of politicians?” The research explores how journalists handle situations in which politicians violate democratic norms through disrespectful behavior or the spread of misinformation.
- Although such actions are clearly newsworthy, reporting on them can unintentionally contribute to the normalization of norm-violating behavior. The aim of the project is to examine how journalists navigate this challenge, whether they consciously or unconsciously treat parties differently, and how their coverage affects citizens.
Her broader research interests include political conflict, the coarsening of political debate, misinformation and media politics.
Research collaboration and expectations
Dr. van der Goot chose the University of Gothenburg because of its strong research environment in political communication and journalism studies. During her stay, she hopes to deepen her understanding of the Swedish media and political system and broaden her expertise in journalism research, building on her background in political science and political communication.
- The research conducted at JMG closely aligns with my academic interests. I’ve also heard great things about the department’s atmosphere and the wonderful people who work here. Furthermore, I have always been fascinated by the Scandinavian countries and am looking forward to experiencing Swedish culture and living close to such stunning nature.
Exploring journalism and democracy
Supported by a research grant, Emma van der Goot plans on conducting two studies while at JMG: one survey among Swedish political journalists, and another among Swedish citizens.
- By comparing the results of these two studies, I hope to understand how the choices that journalists make in their coverage resonate with citizens’ expectations — and how they influence citizens’ views on politicians’ violations of norms,” she explains.
She also looks forward to engaging with colleagues at JMG, exchanging ideas, and developing collaborations for future research on journalism and democracy.
Text: Luiza Lafuente Woellner dos Santos
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