During times of crisis, citizens tend to increase their support and trust in political leaders, a phenomenon commonly known as the “rally-round-the-flag” effect. New research co-authored by Erik Knudsen sheds light on why and under which conditions the rally effect of international emergencies – the case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway – also pertains to the news media.

We are excited to announce the launch of our new demos and poster sites! The newly created web sections showcase the research and the innovative work carried out across all five research groups at the centre.

Regular and frequent updates on the infection rates was the journalistic content most sought by news users during the COVID-19 pandemic. In their latest study, researchers John Magnus Dahl and Brita Ytre-Arne delve into the question of why close monitoring of such numbers appeared meaningful, and what these experiences can tell us about the role of journalism during global crises such as the pandemic.