Political Communication research focuses on communication about socio-political topics in public spaces. We study how institutions, organizations, and citizens communicate in and through traditional and new media. We also examine the effects of this type of communication on citizens' political cognitions, emotions, attitudes, and behaviours – both on the micro and macro level. The study of political communication pays particular attention to how current changes in media environments, evident for instance through the advent of social media or through increasing mobility or visualization of media contents, affects traditional political communication processes. Ultimately, the study of political communication is interested in understanding the role of media and communication in and for the development of liberal democracies.
The Department of Communication pays special attention to the following four key areas of political communication research:
- Election Campaings and Media
Among the central interest of political communication research is understanding the role of media and communication during election campaigns and for election outcomes. Central questions are whether communicative patterns influence voters understanding of and attitudes towards parties and policies. The Department is involved in the Austrian National Election Study (AUTNES) and contributes to the study of election in Austria and more generally at the local, national, and European level.
- Digitalisation, Media, and Politics
Media landscapes are changing dramatically. At the Department of Communication, we study how digitalisation influences all aspect of the political communication process. For instance, scholars investigate how political elites use digital spaces, such as social media, to communicate with and mobilize citizens. We also investigate how disinformation is spread online, and how public fears of disinformation are used by elite actors for political gain. We also examine digital production of political information, e.g., how political journalists may produce reliable, engaging, and diverse news coverage online. Lastly, we focus on the role of new types of digital actor groups, such as social media platforms, in the democratic process.
- Media and Migration
Migration has become a decisive political topic. The Department of Communication acknowledges this importance by investigating the nexus of media and migration from various perspectives. While some study the role of media in shaping perceptions of and attitudes towards migration among majority populations, others study the interaction of mediated migration and far right politics or the role of communication in migration processes or for migrant integration.
- Emotions in Political Communication
A team of scholars investigates the role of emotions in politics, media, and society. The focus here lies with understanding both how emotions influence the production of political communication, e.g., how institutions and journalists use emotionalised communication strategies, as well as on the effects emotions have on citizens and groups in democracies.
Involved Research Scholars and Groups, among others ...
(in alphabetical order)
- Advertising and Media Effects Research Group (AdME)
- Computational Communication Science Lab (CCL)
- Political Communication Research Group (POLCOM)
Current Projects
- NORFACE Scientific Program Coordination: Democratic Governance in a Turbulent Age
Funding provided by NORFACE
Duration: 2021-2024
PI: Sophie Lecheler
- YouCount – Empowering Youth and Cocreating Social Innovations and Policymaking Through Youth-Focused Citizen Social Science
Funding provided by the European Union • Horizon 2020 Program for Research and Innovation
Duration: 2021-2024
Co-PI: Jörg Matthes
- Data-Driven Politics and Communication (DATADRIVEN)
Funding provided by NORFACE and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF – Der Wissenschaftsfonds)
Duration: 2020-2023
PI: Sophie Lecheler
- Immersive Journalism – The Future of News?
Funding provided by the Anniversary Fund of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB)
Duration: 2020-2022
PI: Sophie Lecheler
- Incivility in Politics and Media
Funding provided by Facebook Research: Content Governance Grant
Duration: 2020-2021
PI: Sophie Lecheler
- Sourcing and Verification in Digital Political Journalism
Funding provided by the Taskforce for Applied Research (SIA/NOW)
Duration: –
PI: Sophie Lecheler
- Migration-Related Risks Caused by Misconceptions of Opportunities and Requirement (MIRROR)
Funding provided by the European Union • Horizon 2020 Program for Research and Innovation
Duration: 2019-2022
Co-PI: Hajo Boomgaarden
- Tango on a Tightrope: An Investigation of Media-Politics Dynamics in Austrian EU Crisis Management
Funding provided by the Anniversary Fund of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB)
Duration: 2019-2021
PI: Hajo Boomgaarden
- Social Media and Political Engagement: Mechanisms and Contingencies
Funding provided by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF – Der Wissenschaftsfonds)
Duration: 2018-2022
PI: Jörg Matthes
For a full and detailed list of ongoing and completed externally funded projects in the field of Political Communication, please visit our "projects" section.