Cross-country comparison of media selection and attitudes towards narratives on migration

In this report, we provide a cross-country comparison of news media consumption patterns and anti-immigrant, refugee, and Muslim sentiments in four European countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy (N = 6,065). Data were collected among adults aged 25 to 65 through an online survey fielded during three weeks in May and June 2021. Our findings show that there are notable differences, but also various similarities, in news media consumption patterns: newspaper and digital news consumption is clearly lower than television or radio consumption, in all countries. Furthermore, German, Austrian, and Italian respondents hold relatively similar television and radio news consumption patterns (high public service media exposure, lower commercial), but this is quite different among Hungarians. They consume more news on commercial outlets. As for newspaper and digital news, Germans and Italians mostly consume quality (or broadsheet) newspapers or digital news, while Austrians and Hungarians report higher consumption of popular (or tabloid) newspapers or digital news. Linking the effects of this media consumption to attitudes, results show that exposure to news on public service networks, local television networks, quality newspapers, and quality digital news outlets is linked positive attitudes towards outgroups. Based on earlier findings regarding the rather neutral narratives on migration on several of these media outlets, this was in line with our expectations. However, we also find that exposure to popular newspapers and digital news is related to more positive attitudes among German, Hungarian, and Italian respondents. Among Austrians, there is a clear difference in the relationship depending on the outlet: exposure to quality or (to a lesser extent) moderate outlets is related to positive attitudes, while exposure to popular outlets is associated with negative sentiments. Our findings provide new insights into the complicated association between news media consumption (and their respective narratives on migration) and attitudes in the four countries under study. This signals the need for a continued fine-grained analysis of news media effects on outgroup attitudes.In this report, we provide a cross-country comparison of news media consumption patterns and anti-immigrant, refugee, and Muslim sentiments in four European countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy (N = 6,065). Data were collected among adults aged 25 to 65 through an online survey fielded during three weeks in May and June 2021. Our findings show that there are notable differences, but also various similarities, in news media consumption patterns: newspaper and digital news consumption is clearly lower than television or radio consumption, in all countries. Furthermore, German, Austrian, and Italian respondents hold relatively similar television and radio news consumption patterns (high public service media exposure, lower commercial), but this is quite different among Hungarians. They consume more news on commercial outlets. As for newspaper and digital news, Germans and Italians mostly consume quality (or broadsheet) newspapers or digital news, while Austrians and Hungarians report higher consumption of popular (or tabloid) newspapers or digital news. Linking the effects of this media consumption to attitudes, results show that exposure to news on public service networks, local television networks, quality newspapers, and quality digital news outlets is linked positive attitudes towards outgroups. Based on earlier findings regarding the rather neutral narratives on migration on several of these media outlets, this was in line with our expectations. However, we also find that exposure to popular newspapers and digital news is related to more positive attitudes among German, Hungarian, and Italian respondents. Among Austrians, there is a clear difference in the relationship depending on the outlet: exposure to quality or (to a lesser extent) moderate outlets is related to positive attitudes, while exposure to popular outlets is associated with negative sentiments. Our findings provide new insights into the complicated association between news media consumption (and their respective narratives on migration) and attitudes in the four countries under study. This signals the need for a continued fine-grained analysis of news media effects on outgroup attitudes