Shifting Sources, Shifting Views: How Public Opinion Sources Influence Journalists’ Audience Perceptions

Journalists’ perceptions of the public and their audience play a pivotal role in shaping their reporting, yet research shows that these perceptions often exhibit a right-wing bias. Surprisingly, little is known about the factors driving these misperceptions. Drawing on survey data from 2018 and 2022 among political journalists in Flanders (Belgium), this study reveals a notable shift: journalists are increasingly relying on social platforms to gauge public opinion. This shift carries significant consequences. The findings suggest that the more journalists prioritize social platforms as a source, the more right-wing they perceive their audiences to be – potentially distorting their understanding of the public’s ideology and influencing reporting in unintended ways.