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Effects of news factors on users' news attention and selective exposure on a news aggregator website

Engelmann, E., Luebke, S., & Kessler, S. H. (2021). Effects of news factors on users' news attention and selective exposure on a news aggregator website. Journalism Studies, 22(6), 780-798. DOI: 10.1080/1461670X.2021.1889395

Do journalistic relevance criteria still matter in digital news environments where news is selected and aggregated by algorithms? This article investigates how news factors (e.g., conflict, power elite) influence users’ news attention and selective exposure on the news aggregator website Google News. Alongside direct effects, the study also examines indirect effects of news factors on users’ news selection processes via media cues of news items on the news aggregator website (e.g., picture, position, and recency). The study relies on the news value theory and analyzes observations of users’ news attention and selective exposure on Google News via eye tracking (N = 47 participants, N = 751 news items). We conducted a content analysis on all news items on Google News that users paid attention to. The results show that news factors do not have direct effects on news attention and selective exposure, but rather indirect effects mediated via media cues of news items. Consequently, the traditional idea of newsworthiness based on professional journalistic norms continues to play a role on a news aggregator where news is selected by algorithms.

Diseases and emotions: An automated content analysis of health narratives in inquiries to an online health consultation service

Kessler, S. H. & Schmidt-Weitmann, S. (2021). Diseases and emotions: An automated content analysis of health narratives in inquiries to an online health consultation service. Health Communication, 36(2), 226-235. DOI:10.1080/10410236.2019.1673950

The internet is increasingly used as a source of health-related information by individuals making a medical decision. Online consultation services offer a safe and anonymous time- and place-independent space in which users can ask health-related questions combined with related individual health narratives, including associated emotions. Research on emotions in health narratives and medical communication is still at an early stage. This study investigates the users of an online consultation service themselves and the content of their inquiries related to health narratives, queried diseases, and the emotions expressed. An automated content analysis of all online inquiries to the University Hospital Zurich from 09/08/1999 to 07/06/2018 was conducted (N = 55,476 inquiries). The majority of users were female. Over time, however, significantly more men and older adults began to submit inquiries. The wide variety of medical inquiries submitted to the service extended across all categories in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and correlated with the statistical incidence of diseases in Switzerland. In line with theoretical assumptions about mood management and mood adjustment, users’ health narratives most frequently expressed negative emotions like suffering, fear, worry, and shame. The results find support for a close link between health narratives and emotions. By providing an anonymous space where users can talk about diseases that may be a source of stigma or shame, online consultation services can empower patients and promote health literacy through the provision of individualized health information.

Learning from science news via interactive and animated data visualizations: An investigation combining eye tracking, online survey, and cued retrospective reporting

Greussing, E., Kessler, S. H., & Boomgaarden, H. G. (2020). Learning from science news via interactive and animated data visualizations: An investigation combining eye tracking, online survey, and cued retrospective reporting. Science Communication, 42(6), 803-823. DOI: 10.1177/1075547020962100

Eyeing CRISPR on Wikipedia: Using eye tracking to assess what lay audiences look for to learn about CRISPR and Genetic Engineering

Kessler, S. H., Mede, N. G., & Schäfer, M., S. (2020). Eyeing CRISPR on Wikipedia: Using eye tracking to assess what lay audiences look for to learn about CRISPR and Genetic Engineering. Environmental Communication, 14(7), 886-903. DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2020.1723668

The role of sex and gender on search behavior for political information on the Internet

Kessler, S. H. & Langmann, K. (2020). The role of sex and gender on search behavior for political information on the Internet. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research. DOI: 10.1515/commun-2019-0137

Science communication research in the German-speaking countries: A content Analysis of conference abstracts

Kessler, S. H., Fähnrich, B., & Schäfer, M. S. (2020). Science communication research in the German-speaking countries: A content Analysis of conference abstracts. Studies in Communication Sciences, 19(2), 243-251.

Why do we click? Investigating reasons for user selection on a news aggregator website

Kessler, S. H. & Engelmann, I. (2019). Why do we click? Investigating reasons for user selection on a news aggregator website. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research, 44(2), 225-247. DOI:10.1515/commun-2018-2003

Searching online for information about vaccination: Assessing the influence of user-specific cognitive factors using eye-tracking

Kessler, S. H. & Zillich, A. F. (2019). Searching online for information about vaccination: Assessing the influence of user-specific cognitive factors using eye-tracking. Health Communication, 34(10), 1150-1158. DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1465793

Eyes on the frame: Explaining people's online searching behavior in response to TV consumption

Kessler, S. H. & Guenther, L. (2017). Eyes on the frame: Explaining people's online searching behavior in response to TV consumption. Internet Research, 27(2), 303-320. DOI: 10.1108/IntR-01-2016-0015

Epistemological dimensions on screen: The role of television presentations in changing conceptions about the nature of knowledge and knowing

Guenther, L.* & Kessler, S. H.* (2017). Epistemological dimensions on screen: The role of television presentations in changing conceptions about the nature of knowledge and knowing. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research, 42(4), 481-501. DOI: 10.1515/commun-2017-0020 (* equal contribution)

Ohne Belege in den Talkshow-Olymp. Belegmuster und Akteure in Polit-Talkshows zur Griechenlandkrise

Kessler, S. H. & Lachenmaier, C. (2017). Ohne Belege in den Talkshow-Olymp. Belegmuster und Akteure in Polit-Talkshows zur Griechenlandkrise. Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, 65(1), 64-82. DOI: 10.5771/1615-634X-2017-1-64

On- oder Off-Sprecher? Zur Glaubwürdigkeit verschiedener Evidenzquellen in TV-Wissenschaftsmagazinen

Kessler, S. H. & Guenther, L. (2015). On- oder Off-Sprecher? Zur Glaubwürdigkeit verschiedener Evidenzquellen in TV-Wissenschaftsmagazinen. Studies in Communication|Media, 4(2), 176-188. DOI: 10.5771/2192-4007-2015-2-176

Frames of scientific evidence: How journalists represent the (un)certainty of molecular medicine in science television programs

Ruhrmann, G.*, Guenther, L.*, Kessler, S. H. & Milde, J. (2015). Frames of scientific evidence: How journalists represent the (un)certainty of molecular medicine in science television programs. Public Understanding of Science, 24(6), 681-696. DOI: 10.1177/096366251351064 (* equal contribution) 

Die Darstellung epistemologischer Dimensionen von evidenzbasiertem Wissen in TV-Wissenschaftsmagazinen

Kessler, S. H., Guenther, L. & Ruhrmann, G. (2014). Die Darstellung epistemologischer Dimensionen von evidenzbasiertem Wissen in TV-Wissenschaftsmagazinen. Ein Lehrstück für die Bildungsforschung. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 17(4), 119-139. DOI: 10.1007/s11618-014-0512-7