Media Under Fire: Right-Wing Populist Digital Hostility

Journalism and news organizations worldwide are increasingly targeted by various attacks linked to the rise and spread of right-wing populism. The growing frequency and effectiveness of these assaults on journalism's fundamental importance raise serious concerns. Many right-wing populist parties and leaders, whether in opposition or in office, have made hostility towards the media central to their agendas and communication strategies—this was recently highlighted once again by Donald Trump's electoral victory in the United States, which could have devastating implications for journalism. The rise of digital technologies has intensified the impact of anti-media assaults across diverse cultural, geographical, and political contexts globally. Digital platforms, particularly social media, have made it easier to directly criticize the media to delegitimize or silence it.

This Research Topic aims to address the timely challenges of the relationship between right-wing populism and digital anti-media mechanisms and narratives. More systematic research is needed on how right-wing politicians use the digital environment to attack the news media. Additionally, there is a need for more comparative research to better understand the conditions under which digital attacks are more likely to be employed by right-wing populists in some countries compared to others.

We particularly encourage longitudinal studies that compare the prevalence, targets, and expressions of anti-media attacks on different social media platforms across countries, and the evolving dynamics over time. We also welcome contributions that advance new methodological approaches to address these digital attacks and visual analytical tools.

Potential areas of focus for manuscripts include, but are not limited to, the following:

• attacks on news media mimicking global right-wing digital populist trends while in opposition or when in power
• anti-press digital rhetoric shifting into anti-press offline actions and/or trolling
• use of alternative media or alternative communication channels as weapons of choice
• technology and digital populism, including the use of bots/AI
• assaults against peripheral or engaged journalists
• identity-related attacks; e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, minority status, and age
• use of parody and sarcasm in attacks against journalists
• attackers’ identities and motivations in reaction to lacking or negative media coverage
• conflict and crisis coverage
• election reporting
• protests and campaigning.

Information and Instructions for Authors

This Research Topic accepts Original Research articles only. For more information on Original Research articles, please see here.

Frontiers operates a single-blind model during the review process. This means the reviewers know who the authors are in order to offer a full assessment within the context of their research and to ensure they can avoid any potential competing interests in accepting a review invitation.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy Brief
• Review

Keywords: digital attacks, right-wing populists, anti-media, trolling, AI, alternative media, identity-related assaults

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.