Vaclav Stetka
@vstetka.bsky.social
Media & political communication scholar, Loughborough University
New book: "The Illiberal Turn: Media in Polarized Societies" (Open Access, https://tinyurl.com/34p67pn2)
New book: "The Illiberal Turn: Media in Polarized Societies" (Open Access, https://tinyurl.com/34p67pn2)
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Incoming #Czech gov't triggers alarm over public media plans with thx to @vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social
www.dw.com/en/incoming-...
www.dw.com/en/incoming-...
Incoming Czech gov't triggers alarm over public media plans – DW – 11/05/2025
Czechia's populist ANO party won the most votes in the recent general election and seeks to form a government with two far-right parties. The coalition's plans for public media are causing particular ...
www.dw.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Incoming #Czech gov't triggers alarm over public media plans with thx to @vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social
www.dw.com/en/incoming-...
www.dw.com/en/incoming-...
That's an interesting choice of the headline by @pewresearch.org , seeing the glass half-full rather than half-empty. It would be equally true to say that young Americans's trust in mainstream media has dropped so low that it almost matches their trust in social media.
How Americans’ trust in information from news organizations and social media sites has changed over time
U.S. adults under 30 now trust information from social media almost as much as from national news outlets
Half of 18- to 29-year-olds say they have at least some trust in the information they get from social media sites.
www.pewresearch.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM
That's an interesting choice of the headline by @pewresearch.org , seeing the glass half-full rather than half-empty. It would be equally true to say that young Americans's trust in mainstream media has dropped so low that it almost matches their trust in social media.
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Our new report provides a typology of news creators, based on analysis of 24 countries
The report, by Nic Newman, @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social @mitalilive.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social, makes a distinction between those who focus on hard news and those touching news-adjacent topics
The report, by Nic Newman, @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social @mitalilive.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social, makes a distinction between those who focus on hard news and those touching news-adjacent topics
October 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Our new report provides a typology of news creators, based on analysis of 24 countries
The report, by Nic Newman, @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social @mitalilive.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social, makes a distinction between those who focus on hard news and those touching news-adjacent topics
The report, by Nic Newman, @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social @mitalilive.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social, makes a distinction between those who focus on hard news and those touching news-adjacent topics
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
As democracy crumbles and authoritarianism gains ground around the world, digital media are increasingly being blamed for driving these developments. However, as I and @vstetka.bsky.social argue in a recent piece for Le Monde, the role of digital media in these developments is often exaggerated.
July 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
As democracy crumbles and authoritarianism gains ground around the world, digital media are increasingly being blamed for driving these developments. However, as I and @vstetka.bsky.social argue in a recent piece for Le Monde, the role of digital media in these developments is often exaggerated.
Very much enjoyed the panel on the rise of the illiberal public sphere at #IPSA2025, organised by the Political Communication section, as well as the panel on "destructive polarization" covened by @kathaesa.bsky.social - thanks for the opportunity to promote our work with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social!
July 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Very much enjoyed the panel on the rise of the illiberal public sphere at #IPSA2025, organised by the Political Communication section, as well as the panel on "destructive polarization" covened by @kathaesa.bsky.social - thanks for the opportunity to promote our work with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social!
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Our Digital News Report 2025 is out!
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
June 17, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Our Digital News Report 2025 is out!
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
📊48 markets
🌏Almost 100K respondents
📰Key headline: Audiences lean into video news and influencers, raising misinformation concerns and new dilemmas for publishers
📱Explore now buff.ly/xLP67Tg
🧵Findings in thread #DNR25
Truly honoured by this award for our book with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social🙏 Many thanks to APSA @apsaitp.bsky.social, as well as to almost 20k people who have accessed the book online so far! #illiberalism
🎉 Excited to share the APSA Technology & Politics Section Award winners! 🏆
📚 Best Book
The Illiberal Public Sphere: Media in Polarized Societies
by @sabinamihelj.bsky.social & @vstetka.bsky.social. You can access it, it is in open access!
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
🧵
📚 Best Book
The Illiberal Public Sphere: Media in Polarized Societies
by @sabinamihelj.bsky.social & @vstetka.bsky.social. You can access it, it is in open access!
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
🧵
The Illiberal Public Sphere
This book uncovers the media's role in global illiberalism through cutting-edge analysis of recent developments in Eastern Europe.
link.springer.com
June 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Truly honoured by this award for our book with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social🙏 Many thanks to APSA @apsaitp.bsky.social, as well as to almost 20k people who have accessed the book online so far! #illiberalism
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Hungary’s new ‘transparency’ bill targets independent media & civil society. This is authoritarianism, not accountability.
We stand with all journalists, NGOs & citizens defending democracy. The EU must act.
nezavisla.economia.cz/en/committee...
#PressFreedom #Hungary #EUvalues
We stand with all journalists, NGOs & citizens defending democracy. The EU must act.
nezavisla.economia.cz/en/committee...
#PressFreedom #Hungary #EUvalues
May 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Hungary’s new ‘transparency’ bill targets independent media & civil society. This is authoritarianism, not accountability.
We stand with all journalists, NGOs & citizens defending democracy. The EU must act.
nezavisla.economia.cz/en/committee...
#PressFreedom #Hungary #EUvalues
We stand with all journalists, NGOs & citizens defending democracy. The EU must act.
nezavisla.economia.cz/en/committee...
#PressFreedom #Hungary #EUvalues
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
RSF this year for the first time called the global environment for press freedom ‘difficult.’ What does the future hold for press freedom in Taiwan and Asia?
🎙️ Aleksandra Bielakowska (@ketalaolan.bsky.social), Irene Jay Liu & Václav Štětka (@vstetka.bsky.social)
Watch here:
🎙️ Aleksandra Bielakowska (@ketalaolan.bsky.social), Irene Jay Liu & Václav Štětka (@vstetka.bsky.social)
Watch here:
Has Press Freedom Reached a Low Point in 2025? Blame Social Media, AI and Budget Cuts | CONNECTED
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) this year for the first time called the global environment for press freedom ‘difficult.’ What does the future hold for press...
youtu.be
May 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
RSF this year for the first time called the global environment for press freedom ‘difficult.’ What does the future hold for press freedom in Taiwan and Asia?
🎙️ Aleksandra Bielakowska (@ketalaolan.bsky.social), Irene Jay Liu & Václav Štětka (@vstetka.bsky.social)
Watch here:
🎙️ Aleksandra Bielakowska (@ketalaolan.bsky.social), Irene Jay Liu & Václav Štětka (@vstetka.bsky.social)
Watch here:
It was a real pleasure to talk about our book with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social to such an engaged audience. Many thanks to Marlene Laruelle and @jchrobie.bsky.social for having us!
If you missed yesterday's presentation by @vstetka.bsky.social and @sabinamihelj.bsky.social on their new book, The Illiberal Public Sphere, the full recording is now available on our YouTube!
youtu.be/ySHWGIbuB9U
youtu.be/ySHWGIbuB9U
The Illiberal Public Sphere: Media in Polarized Societies
YouTube video by Illiberalism Studies Program
youtu.be
April 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
It was a real pleasure to talk about our book with @sabinamihelj.bsky.social to such an engaged audience. Many thanks to Marlene Laruelle and @jchrobie.bsky.social for having us!
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Join us for an online presentation of a new book by @vstetka.bsky.social and @sabinamihelj.bsky.social: The Illiberal Public Sphere Media in Polarized Societies!
Hear about increasing #illiberalism, #polarization, and declining trust in mass media in CEE
Register here: tinyurl.com/5n6f82rd
Hear about increasing #illiberalism, #polarization, and declining trust in mass media in CEE
Register here: tinyurl.com/5n6f82rd
March 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Join us for an online presentation of a new book by @vstetka.bsky.social and @sabinamihelj.bsky.social: The Illiberal Public Sphere Media in Polarized Societies!
Hear about increasing #illiberalism, #polarization, and declining trust in mass media in CEE
Register here: tinyurl.com/5n6f82rd
Hear about increasing #illiberalism, #polarization, and declining trust in mass media in CEE
Register here: tinyurl.com/5n6f82rd
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
A giant step back for womankind?
On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows
web.archive.org/web/20250313...
On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows
web.archive.org/web/20250313...
March 21, 2025 at 12:49 AM
A giant step back for womankind?
On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows
web.archive.org/web/20250313...
On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows
web.archive.org/web/20250313...
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Last month I did a little experiment.
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
March 16, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Last month I did a little experiment.
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
🎉 Delighted to learn I have been awarded funding for comparative, mixed-methods research on Russian #disinformation in Poland, Romania & Serbia, with Fanni Toth @durhamuniversity.bsky.social as Co-I, & in collaboration with @m-deceit.bsky.social @sabinamihelj.bsky.social @stevehutchings.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
🎉 Delighted to learn I have been awarded funding for comparative, mixed-methods research on Russian #disinformation in Poland, Romania & Serbia, with Fanni Toth @durhamuniversity.bsky.social as Co-I, & in collaboration with @m-deceit.bsky.social @sabinamihelj.bsky.social @stevehutchings.bsky.social
Excellent analysis of the latest developments in the long & tortuous struggle to secure financial sustainability and political independence of the #Czech public service media.
Battle Over #Czech Public Service Broadcaster: Another Rerun balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b... w insight from
@vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social
balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b...
@vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social
balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b...
Battle Over Czech Public Service Broadcaster: Another Rerun
The Czech government is looking to push through a license fee hike for public service broadcasters before the autumn election, when the populists are expected to return to power.
balkaninsight.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Excellent analysis of the latest developments in the long & tortuous struggle to secure financial sustainability and political independence of the #Czech public service media.
Deadline approaching soon for this unique PhD studentship, supervised by @sabinamihelj.bsky.social and myself, in collaboration with @bbcmediaaction.bsky.social - if you are interested in researching disinformation in the #Baltics, #Afghanistan or #Libya, do apply by 24 February!
📣 We have a fully funded #PhD place available at the Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social at Loughborough University, in collaboration with BBC Media Action and supported by the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP.
February 21, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Deadline approaching soon for this unique PhD studentship, supervised by @sabinamihelj.bsky.social and myself, in collaboration with @bbcmediaaction.bsky.social - if you are interested in researching disinformation in the #Baltics, #Afghanistan or #Libya, do apply by 24 February!
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
„Myslím si, že to je (v českém kontextu) pořád nejlepší způsob, jakkoliv sám o sobě nedokonalý, jak garantovat politickou nezávislost veřejnoprávních médií, což je pro jejich fungování zcela klíčové,“ říká v @zaminutusest.bsky.social o koncesionářských poplatcích sociolog médií @vstetka.bsky.social
„Naivní,“ říká odborník o nápadu platit veřejnoprávní média jako Netflix - Seznam Zprávy
Koalice a opozice svádí ve Sněmovně bitvu o koncesionářské poplatky. Obejdou se veřejnoprávní média bez jejich zvýšení? A obešla by se naopak česká společnost bez veřejnoprávních médií? Rozebíráme se ...
www.seznamzpravy.cz
February 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
„Myslím si, že to je (v českém kontextu) pořád nejlepší způsob, jakkoliv sám o sobě nedokonalý, jak garantovat politickou nezávislost veřejnoprávních médií, což je pro jejich fungování zcela klíčové,“ říká v @zaminutusest.bsky.social o koncesionářských poplatcích sociolog médií @vstetka.bsky.social
"Wonderfully structured and accessible, it appeals not only to
scholars but also to the broader democratic public grappling with the question: 'What on earth is happening to democracy?'”
Delighted to read such a nice review of our book! @sabinamihelj.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
scholars but also to the broader democratic public grappling with the question: 'What on earth is happening to democracy?'”
Delighted to read such a nice review of our book! @sabinamihelj.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"Wonderfully structured and accessible, it appeals not only to
scholars but also to the broader democratic public grappling with the question: 'What on earth is happening to democracy?'”
Delighted to read such a nice review of our book! @sabinamihelj.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
scholars but also to the broader democratic public grappling with the question: 'What on earth is happening to democracy?'”
Delighted to read such a nice review of our book! @sabinamihelj.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Still 3 week to apply for this unique PhD studentship at our Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social, in collaboration with #BBC @bbcmediaaction.bsky.social - if you are interested in researching disinformation in the #Baltics, #Afghanistan or #Libya, we would love to hear from you!
📣 We have a fully funded #PhD place available at the Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social at Loughborough University, in collaboration with BBC Media Action and supported by the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP.
February 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Still 3 week to apply for this unique PhD studentship at our Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social, in collaboration with #BBC @bbcmediaaction.bsky.social - if you are interested in researching disinformation in the #Baltics, #Afghanistan or #Libya, we would love to hear from you!
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Three stages of a liberal public sphere being replaced by an #illiberal one. Very useful framework from @vstetka.bsky.social & @sabinamihelj.bsky.social - all we see happening in the US fits. Q = how to win the struggle against it? Needs creativity and will: www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
www.ssoar.info
February 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Three stages of a liberal public sphere being replaced by an #illiberal one. Very useful framework from @vstetka.bsky.social & @sabinamihelj.bsky.social - all we see happening in the US fits. Q = how to win the struggle against it? Needs creativity and will: www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
Research finds TikTok’s algorithm apparently favors one political side more than the other. Republican accounts got 11.8% more content supporting their views, Democrats saw 7.5% more content opposing theirs. The bias comes from negative partisanship, prioritizing criticism. arxiv.org/pdf/2501.17831
February 2, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Research finds TikTok’s algorithm apparently favors one political side more than the other. Republican accounts got 11.8% more content supporting their views, Democrats saw 7.5% more content opposing theirs. The bias comes from negative partisanship, prioritizing criticism. arxiv.org/pdf/2501.17831
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
More than half Gen Z think authoritarian leader better for UK than democracy, poll suggests – UK politics live
More than half Gen Z think authoritarian leader better for UK than democracy, poll suggests – UK politics live
Polling finds 52% of Gen Z thought UK would be better place if ‘strong leader did not have to bother with parliament and elections’
A persistent slowdown in activity among private sector firms could weigh on economic growth over the coming months, with…
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
More than half Gen Z think authoritarian leader better for UK than democracy, poll suggests – UK politics live
Honoured and excited to be joining the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Press/Politics, and looking forward to working with the new editorial team under the leadership of Taberez A. Neyazi @taberez.bsky.social !
#IJPP #PoliticalCommunication journals.sagepub.com/editorial-bo...
#IJPP #PoliticalCommunication journals.sagepub.com/editorial-bo...
Editorial Board: The International Journal of Press/Politics: Sage Journals
The editorial board of The International Journal of Press/Politics
journals.sagepub.com
January 22, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Honoured and excited to be joining the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Press/Politics, and looking forward to working with the new editorial team under the leadership of Taberez A. Neyazi @taberez.bsky.social !
#IJPP #PoliticalCommunication journals.sagepub.com/editorial-bo...
#IJPP #PoliticalCommunication journals.sagepub.com/editorial-bo...
Reposted by Vaclav Stetka
📣 We have a fully funded #PhD place available at the Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social at Loughborough University, in collaboration with BBC Media Action and supported by the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP.
January 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
📣 We have a fully funded #PhD place available at the Communication & Media Department @lborocrcc.bsky.social at Loughborough University, in collaboration with BBC Media Action and supported by the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP.