Reinforcing Influence of Ideology on News Selection and Societal Perceptions: The COVID Pandemic in Sweden

Abstract

This study tests the Reinforcing Spirals Model (RSM) using a Swedish three-wave panel study ( N = 1,376) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It contributes to the literature by studying whether ideological news use affects citizens’ perceptions about how Sweden managed the pandemic. The results exhibit how perceptions are dependent on ideological predisposition, which is mediated by news use, and how right-wing ideology initiates a reinforcing spiral between selective news use and perceptions. Ideological as well as news use asymmetries are displayed here: Alternative news reinforces negative perceptions, whereas traditional news has no effect. The findings are discussed in light of the RSM.