Dr. Niels G. Mede - Long-term media effects on public attitudes toward

Journal article

Lena Zils, Julia Metag, Niels G. Mede, Mike S. Schäfer
Public Understanding of Science, vol. 35, 2026, pp. 421-433

Cite

APA Click to copy
Zils, L., Metag, J., Mede, N. G., & Schäfer, M. S. (2026). Long-term media effects on public attitudes toward science in Switzerland: A panel survey of the Swiss population. Public Understanding of Science, 35, 421–433. https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625251400658

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Zils, Lena, Julia Metag, Niels G. Mede, and Mike S. Schäfer. “Long-Term Media Effects on Public Attitudes toward Science in Switzerland: A Panel Survey of the Swiss Population.” Public Understanding of Science 35 (2026): 421–433.

MLA Click to copy
Zils, Lena, et al. “Long-Term Media Effects on Public Attitudes toward Science in Switzerland: A Panel Survey of the Swiss Population.” Public Understanding of Science, vol. 35, 2026, pp. 421–33, doi:10.1177/09636625251400658.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{zils2026a,
  title = {Long-term media effects on public attitudes toward science in Switzerland: A panel survey of the Swiss population},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {Public Understanding of Science},
  pages = {421-433},
  volume = {35},
  doi = {10.1177/09636625251400658},
  author = {Zils, Lena and Metag, Julia and Mede, Niels G. and Schäfer, Mike S.}
}

Understanding how media influence public attitudes toward science during societal challenges is crucial for effective science communication. This study examines the role of media use and sociodemographic factors in shaping public attitudes toward science in Switzerland using panel data from three surveys over 6 years (N, 2016 = 1,051; N, 2019 = 339; N, 2022 = 122). Results show that media usage and sociodemographics influenced attitudes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower education and stronger religiosity correlated with reduced interest in or trust in science. Use of online legacy media showed rally-around-the-flag effects, but we found no clear differences between public and private broadcasters regarding their impact on science attitudes. These findings highlight the relationship of media use, sociodemographics, and public attitudes during societal uncertainty and over time, offering insights for targeted, context-sensitive science communication.