The Context-Dependent Demand for Watchdog Journalism: Dynamics in Audience Expectations for Journalists’ Role Performance

Figures & data

Figure 1. Development in audience demand for journalistic roles over time.

Note. Displays share of respondents choosing each task as the most important one. n_(April 2020) = 1,041, n_(November 2020) = 1,000, n_(June 2021) = 1,000.

Figure 2. Views across party preference on the weight journalists gave to asking critical questions and challenge politicians and authorities.

Note. November 2020: n_(government) = 256, n_{(supporting parties)} = 155, n_(opposition) = 340. June 2021: n_(government) = 239, n_{(supporting parties)} = 145, n_(opposition) = 320.

Figure 3. Over-time views across party preference on the weight journalists gave to asking critical questions and challenge politicians and authorities.

Note. n = 201 (government = 77, supporting parties = 30, opposition = 94).

Table A1. Original quotes and translations

Respondent	Translation	Original
Male, 56 Opposition supporter June 2021	Ask the decision makers the challenging questions – it can make us all smarter. They must be “diggers” and not just pass on press releases of the authorities (which of course they also should) … but it should be more than just a “microphone stand” passing on a lot—possibly—spin unreflectedly. A free and independent press is simply a necessity.	Stil de udfordrende spørgsmål til beslutningstagerne – det kan gøre os alle klogere. De skal være “gravere” og ikke bare viderebringe Myndighedernes pressemeddelelser (hvilket de selvfølgelig også skal) … men det skal være mere end blot at være et “mikrofon stativ”, der viderebringer en masse … muligvis spin … ureflekteret. En fri og uafhængig presse er simpelthen en nødvendighed.
Male, 75 Opposition supporter June 2021	Investigate statements from politicians and officials to clarify what is true and what is politics. Describe the consequences of the various statements so that the ordinary citizen knows what is being said and why.	Undersøge udsagn fra politikere og embedsmænd for at klarlægge hvad der er sandt og hvad der er politik. Beskrive konsekvenser ved de forskellige udsagn så den almindelige borger ved hvad der tales om og hvorfor.
Male, 77 Voting blank June 2021	Ask about the public administration and justification for the many initiatives. Be aware of the costs of the crisis on society, how the huge government loans will be repaid, and be more critical about the mistakes the government makes – again and again – including illegal measures, such as the mink slaughtering.	Spørge ind til det offentliges forvaltning og begrundelse for de mange tiltag. Være opmærksom på hvilke omkostninger krisen har på samfundet, hvorledes tilbagebetales de kæmpe lån regeringen har optaget, samt være mere kritisk omkring de fejl som regeringen begår – igen og igen – herunder ulovlige tiltag som minkslagtning.
Male, 69 Opposition supporter June 2021	There should be one role: (1) to focus on the disease control itself and the choices and actions of the authorities. But for this government, the journalists have yet another role: (2) the usurped power of the government at the expense of the people's rule and its pronounced reluctance to hand over power again.	Der burde være én rolle: (1) at stille skarpt på selve sygdomsbekæmpelsen og myndighedernes valg og ageren. Men for denne regering har journalisterne endnu en rolle: (2) regeringens tilranede magt på folkestyrets bekostning og dens udprægede modvilje mod at aflevere magten igen.
Female, 86 Government supporter June 2021	Every time they find the smallest thing to criticize the government for, they blow it up into monstrous proportions instead of acting sensibly and balanced.	Hver eneste gang de finder et halmstrå at kritisere regeringen på, blæser de det op i uhyrlige dimensioner i stedet for at optræde fornuftigt og afbalanceret.
Female, 46 Government supporter June 2021	They are welcome to drill a bit into answers and decisions, but not from a deliberately negative attitude. I would like to be informed and know something about the background of the decision and what can be expected, but I get annoyed if you are only out to create discord.	De må gerne bore lidt i svar og beslutninger men ikke ud fra en bevidst negativ holdning. Jeg vil gerne informeres og vide noget om baggrunden for beslutningen og hvad der kan forventes, men bliver irriteret hvis man kun er ude på at skabe splid.
Male, 70 Government supporter June 2021	They ask far too many stupid questions that neither politicians nor experts have a chance to an answer to. They love to hear themselves. And must absolutely be in focus.	De stiller alt for mange dumme spørgsmål, som hverken politikere eller experter har mulighed for at svare på. De elsker at høre sig selv. Og skal absolut være i fokus.
Male, 24 April 2020	I have missed, however, that the journalists have done their preparatory work by delving deeply themselves into the pandemic, and they have not been good at listening. At various press conferences, there have been many repetitive questions that had already been thoroughly answered.	Til gengæld har jeg savnet at journalisterne har gjort deres forarbejder, ved at sætte sig ind i pandemien og har været slemme til ikke at høre efter. Til diverse pressemøder har der været mange gentagende spørgsmål, som var blevet grundigt besvaret i forvejen.
Female, 54 Undecided June 2021	They must provide information and ask critical questions when necessary. But they don't need to subject people to a witch hunt.	De skal oplyse og stille kritiske spørgsmål når det er nødvendigt. Men de behøver ikke udsætte folk for en heksejagt.