How journalism responds to right-wing populist criticism: The "lying press" attack and the "no censorship" or "no ammunition" defence

Abstract

Right-wing populists often criticise the established media for being untruthful or censoring what critics consider to be important information-for instance, the ethnic background of perpetrators-and for being biased against right-wing populist actors. That hostility towards journalism can be understood as a consequence of the right-wing populist worldview. Because such criticism uses professional norms of journalism against it and due to particular aspects of how journalism functions, it remains difficult for journalists to respond to such criticism. Certain responses risk confirming and even normalising the right-wing populist worldview.