Dr. K.A.E. (Kathleen) Beckers
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
CW : Political Communication & Journalism
Area of expertise: Journalism, Public opinion, News content diversity, Opinion polls, Vox pops
Visiting address
- Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
Postal address
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Postbus 15791
1001 NG Amsterdam
Contact details
Social media
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Profile
Kathleen Beckers is an assistant professor of political communication and journalism at the University of Amsterdam. She gained her PhD from the University of Antwerp (Belgium). She studies how journalism represents public opinion, how news shapes citizens’ political perceptions, and how contemporary challenges—including political polarization, online hostility, platformization, and democratic erosion—transform journalism practice. Her work combines content analyses, surveys, experiments, diary studies, and interviews to understand how journalism can remain resilient and fulfil its democratic role in an increasingly contested information environment.
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Research Projects
2026 – current | Horizon Europe – EDGE (consortium partner)
Enhancing Democratic Support under Conditions of Geographic and Intersectional Inequalities in Europe
With Katjana Gattermann (UvA)2025 - current| University of Amsterdam – Conflict & Society RPA Seed Grant (co-applicant)
The New Normal? Citizens’ Perceptions of Digital Aggression against Politicians and Journalists
With Emma van der Goot (UvA).2024 - 2026 | Dutch Research Council (NWO) – Open Competition XS (PI)
Navigating the Storm: A Diary Study into Politically Instigated Aggression against Journalists and Its Effects2024 - 2026 | University of Amsterdam – Interdisciplinary Seed Grant, Fair and Resilient Societies (co-applicant)
Breaking News, Breaking Barriers? Media Representations of Immigrants through Journalistic and Citizen Lenses
With Asli Unan (UvA) and Maja Hertoghs (UvA).2021 | University of Antwerp – Research Board Award, Deleeck Award for Social Sciences and Humanities (PI)
2021 | University of Antwerp – BOF Small Research Grant (PI)
Does Diverse News Lead to a Diverse Audience? The Influence of News Content Diversity on People's Opinions, Issue Perceptions, and News Item Evaluation2019 - 2020 | Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) – Postdoctoral Fellowship
Public Opinion in the News during the 2020 U.S. Elections2018 - 2023 | Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) – Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Voice of the People: Displays of Public Opinion in the News and Their Influence on Audiences2018 | University of Antwerp – BOF Small Research Grant (PI)
Vox Pops or Polls? Effects of Vox Pops and Opinion Polls on Perceived Public Opinion, Personal Opinion and News Item Evaluation -
Teaching & PhD supervision
Regular Courses
- Investigative Journalism
- Journalism and the Media
- Research Methods Tailored to the Thesis (Experiments)
- Master thesis supervision
PhD Supervision
Completed
Hanne Tillemans (2026). Impartiality in the news: A multiperspective study on how journalists, citizens, and politicians understand impartial journalism. Co-supervisor: Peter Van Aelst (University of Antwerp)Ongoing
Doris Bukman (2025–present). The impact of media concentration on journalists and the public. Supervisory team: Ulrike Klinger, Mark Boukes, Olga Eisele, and Kathleen Beckers (University of Amsterdam) -
Publications
- refereed (37)
- popular scientific (6)
- conference contributions (4)
- recognitions (20)
- doctoral thesis (1)
- working papers / preprints (1)
2026
- Beckers, K., & Strikovic, E. (2026). From the Streets to the Tweets. The Influence of Public Opinion Information on Journalists’ Judgments. Journalism Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2026.2651972
- Bukman, D. L., Eisele, O., Beckers, K. A. E., Boukes, M., & Klinger, U. (2026). Publishers’ Power: The Influence of Ownership on the Framing of Dutch Media Concentration (2003–2022). Journalism Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2026.2719572
Hendrickx, J., Beckers, K., & Van Droogenbroeck, K. (2026). Does News Diversity Work Among Audiences? A Citizen Experiment. Journalism Practice, 20(2), 458-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2361366 [details]- Maes, B., Beckers, K., van der Goot, E., & Soontjens, K. (2026). Shifting Sources, Shifting Views: How Public Opinion Sources Influence Journalists’ Audience Perceptions. Journalism Studies, 27(4), 520-540. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2025.2597869 [details]
- Soontjens, K., Beckers, K. A. E., van der Goot, E. S., & Morosoli, S. V. (2026). Press and Prejudice: an Interview Study on Politicians’ Perceptions of Partisan News Media Bias. Political Communication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2026.2675595
2025
- Beckers, K. (2025). Diverse news, diverse perceptions? Investigating the effects of actor and viewpoint diversity in news content on audience perceptions and opinions. Journalism, 26(9), 1840-1858. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241264130 [details]
- Beckers, K. (2025). Vox pops. In A. Nai, M. Grömping, & D. Wirz (Eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Political Communication (Vol. 3, pp. 693-696). (Elgar encyclopedias in the social sciences). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035301447.vol3.00167 [details]
- Lamot, K., Beckers, K., & Van Aelst, P. (2025). Silencing the fourth estate? Understanding the impact of online public violence against political journalists. Journalism Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2025.2575333
- Prochazka, F., Soontjens, K., Beckers, K. A. E., Hopmann, D. N., & Schuck, A. R. T. (2025). Projection in journalists’ perceptions of public opinion. Journalism. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849251346198
- Verleyen, E., Beckers, K., & Jacobs, L. (2025). Acknowledging, But Constrained? An Analysis of Press Agency Journalists’ Justifications of Frames, Source, and Actor Terminology in Immigration News. Journalism Studies, 26(6), 643-660. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2025.2456495 [details]
2024
- Beckers, K. (2024). “The People Are Angry”: Public Opinion Inferences in Broadcast and Print News. In P. Moy, & R. Neumann (Eds.), Political Communication, Culture, and Society (pp. 1-19). (Electronic Media Research Series). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003391692-1 [details]
- Beckers, K., van Dijk, R. E., Van Aelst, P., & De Swert, K. (2024). A Long March Toward Equality: Predicting the Presence of Women in Television News. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 101(2), 477-499. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990231211806 [details]
- van der Goot, E. S., Soontjens, K., Beckers, K. A. E., Buyens, W., & Van Aelst, P. (2024). Pointing fingers in the disinformation era: How journalists and politicians perceive each other’s role in spreading disinformation and tts impact on their relationship. Journalism Studies, 25(13). https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2024.2372431
2023
- Doll, M. E., Moy, P., & Beckers, K. (2023). In Peace Journalism we Trust? Effects of Peace Journalism on News-item Credibility and Media Trust. Journalism Studies, 24(16), 1999-2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2274589 [details]
- Soontjens, K., Beckers, K., & van Remoortere, A. (2023). Journalistiek uit balans? Inhoud, percepties, en gevolgen van partijdigheid van de Vlaamse media. ASP. [details]
- Soontjens, K., Beckers, K., Walgrave, S., van der Goot, E., & van der Meer, T. G. L. A. (2023). Not All Parties are Treated Equally Journalist Perceptions of Partisan News Bias. Journalism Studies, 24(9), 1194-1213. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2203780 [details]
- Verleyen, E., & Beckers, K. (2023). European refugee crisis or European migration crisis? How words matter in the news framing (2015–2020) of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. Journalism and Media, 4, 727-742. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4030046 [details]
2022
- Beckers, K. (2022). Power of the people or the expert? The influence of vox pop and expert statements on news-item evaluation, perceived public opinion, and personal opinion. Communications : The European Journal of Communication Research, 47, 114-135. https://doi.org/10.1515/COMMUN-2019-0186
- Beckers, K., & Doll, M. E. (2022). The representation of public opinion in routine U.S. network news. Mass Communication & Society, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2022.2127368
- Peter, C., & Beckers, K. (2022). Vox pops vs. poll results : effects of consonant and dissonant displays of public opinion in news coverage. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 34, Article edac017. https://doi.org/10.1093/IJPOR/EDAC017
2021
- Beckers, K. (2021). "According to the polls opinion poll coverage in network evening news during the 2020 U.S. election campaign. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 33, 1050-1061. https://doi.org/10.1093/IJPOR/EDAB019
- Beckers, K., & Moy, P. (2021). Public opinion in the news : examining portrayals and viewpoint heterogeneity. Journalism Practice, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1984282
- Beckers, K., Van Aelst, P., Verhoest, P., & Leen, DH. (2021). What do people learn from following the news? A diary study on the influence of media use on knowledge of current news stories. European Journal of Communication, 36, 254-269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323120978724
- Soontjens, K., Van Remoortere, A., & Beckers, K. (2021). Belgium. In Handbuch Politischer Journalismus / Prinzing, M. [edit.]; Blum, R. [edit.] (pp. 756-761). Herbert von Halem-Verlag.
- Van Aelst, P., & Beckers, K. (2021). Actordiversiteit in het nieuw : welke stemmen worden (niet) gehoord? In Nieuws, diversiteit en democratie : trends, bedreigingen en nieuwe paden / Verhoest, P. [edit.]; d L. [edit.] (pp. 39-54). ASP. https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1810240151162165141
2020
- Beckers, K. (2020). The voice of the people in the news : a content analysis of public opinion displays in routine and election news. Journalism Studies, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1809498
2019
- Beckers, K. (2019). Vox pops : forms of journalism. In The international encyclopedia of journalism studies / Vos, Tim P. [edit.]; et al. (pp. 1-3). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118841570.IEJS0146
- Beckers, K. (2019). What vox pops say and how that matters : effects of vox pops in television news on perceived public opinion and personal opinion. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 96, 980-1003. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077699019843852
- Beckers, K., & Harder, R. (2019). "Twitter just exploded" : social media as alternative vox pop. In The future of journalism : risks, threats and opportunities / Allan, S. [edit.]; et al. [edit.] (pp. 910-920). (Journalism studies : theory and practice). Routledge.
- Beckers, K., & Van Aelst, P. (2019). Did the European migrant crisis change news coverage of immigration? A longitudinal analysis of immigration television news and the actors speaking in it. Mass Communication & Society, 22, 733-755. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2019.1663873
- Beckers, K., & Van Aelst, P. (2019). Look who's Talking. An analysis of actors in television news (2003-2016). Journalism Studies, 20, 872-890. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2018.1463169
- Beckers, K., Masini, A., Sevenans, J., van der Burg, M., De Smedt, J., Van den Bulck, H., & Walgrave, S. (2019). Are newspapers’ news stories becoming more alike? Media content diversity in Belgium, 1983–2013. Journalism, 20(12), 1665-1683. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884917706860
- Beckers, K., Walgrave, S., Wolf, H., Lamot, K., & Van Aelst, P. (2019). Right-wing bias in journaliststextquotesingle perceptions of public opinion. Journalism Practice, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2019.1703788
2018
- Beckers, K. (2018). Vox pops in the news: the journalists perspective. Communications : The European Journal of Communication Research, 43, 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1515/COMMUN-2017-0040
- Beckers, K., Van den Bulck, H., & Walgrave, S. (2018). Opinion balance in vox pop television news. Journalism Studies, 19, 284-296. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2016.1187576
2017
- Beckers, K. (2017). How ordinary is the ordinary (wo)man on the street? An analysis of vox pop characteristics in television news. Journalism Practice, 11, 1026-1041. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2016.1223551
2016
- Beckers, K., & Harder, R. A. (2016). Twitter just exploded: social media as alternative vox pop. Digital Journalism, 4(7), 910-920. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2016.1161493 [details]
2025
- Verleyen, E., Jacobs, L. C. N., & Beckers, K. A. E. (2025). 10 jaar na Alan: hoe nieuws ons beeld over immigratie kleurt. Samenleving en politiek: tijdschrift voor een democratisch socialisme, 42-47.
2023
- Lamot, K., Soontjens, K., Beckers, K. A. E., Walgrave, S., & Van Aelst, P. (2023). Politiek Journalisten in Vlaanderen: hun relatie met burgers en politici en de uitdagingen die ermee gepaard gaan. https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/m2p/onderzoek-vertaald/2023/
2021
- Van Aelst, P., Walgrave, S., Tillemans, H., Kuypers, I., & Beckers, K. A. E. (2021). Onpartijdigheid van de VRT nieuwsberichtgeving 2021: Rapport in opdracht van VRM.
2020
- Beckers, K. (2020). Waarom hadden de peilingen het opnieuw zo mis? (Opiniestuk). De Standaard. https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1730350151162165141
2015
- Beckers, K., & Walgrave, S. (2015). Man in de straat : meer dan opvulling in het televisienieuws : een onderzoek naar vox pops in het televisienieuws (2003-2014). Nieuwsmonitor, 24, 1-11.
- De Smedt, J., Beckers, K., Kuypers, I., Van Aelst, P., & Walgrave, S. (2015). Meer van hetzelfde? Een longitudinaal onderzoek naar de gelijkenis van het nieuws in de Vlaamse kranten (1983-2013). Nieuwsmonitor, 23, 1-12.
2023
- Beckers, K. A. E., & Tillemans, H. (2023). Examining Impartiality in Journalistic Ethics Codes: A Comparative Study. Paper presented at Ninth conference of the International Journal of Press/Politics, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
- Lamot, K., Beckers, K. A. E., & Van Aelst, P. (2023). Silencing the Fourth Estate: Understanding the Origins and Impact of Intimidation and Harassment Against Political Journalists.. Paper presented at Ninth conference of the International Journal of Press/Politics, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
- Soontjens, K., Beckers, K. A. E., Walgrave, S., van der Goot, E. S., & van der Meer, G. L. A. (2023). “Not all parties are treated equally”. Journalist perceptions of partisan news bias.. Paper presented at International Communication Association, Toronto, Canada.
- Verleyen, E., & Beckers, K. A. E. (2023). European Refugee Crisis or European Migration Crisis? How Words Matter in the Framing of Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Migrants in Belgian Coverage (2015-2020).. Paper presented at International Communication Association, Toronto, Canada.
Prize / grant
- van der Goot, E. & Beckers, K. (2025). Seed grant RPA “Conflict & Society” : The new normal? Citizens’ perceptions of digital aggression against politicians and journalists. https://conflictstudies.uva.nl/content/news/2025/03/11-conflict-society-rpa-seed-grants.html
- Beckers, K. (2024). Navigating the storm. A diary study into politically instigated aggression against journalists and its effects (NWO XS)..
- Beckers, K. (2024). Breaking news, breaking barriers? Media Representations of Immigrants through Journalistic and Citizen Lenses.
- Beckers, K. (2022). Alumni award of the Belgian American Educational Foundation.
- Beckers, K. (2021). Award of the Research Board 2021 - Award Deleeck: Social Sciences and Humanities.
- Beckers, K. (2021). Does diverse news lead to a diverse audience? The influence of news content diversity on people's opinions, issue perceptions, and news item evaluation..
- Beckers, K. (2019). Public opinion in the news during the 2020 U.S. elections.
- Beckers, K. (2018). The Voice of the People. Displays of Public Opinion in the News and Their Influence on Audiences..
- Beckers, K. (2018). Vox Pops or Polls? Effects of Vox Pops and Opinion Polls on Perceived Public Opinion, Personal Opinion and News Item Evaluation..
- Beckers, K. (2016). Journalism Studies Division Top Student Paper Award: 1st place for the paper “Enlivening illustration or public opinion? An analysis of vox pop statements in political television news”(.
Media appearance
- Beckers, K. (16-07-2024). Verschillende meningen in het nieuws: vindt de lezer dat betrouwbaar? [Web] SVDJ. Verschillende meningen in het nieuws: vindt de lezer dat betrouwbaar?. https://www.svdj.nl/nieuws/verschillende-meningen-in-het-nieuws-vindt-de-lezer-dat-betrouwbaar/
- Beckers, K. (08-12-2023). Hoe objectief is het nieuws van VTM en VRT? ‘Meer vrouwen in de journalistiek kan helpen om de genderkloof te verkleinen’ [Web] De Morgen. Hoe objectief is het nieuws van VTM en VRT? ‘Meer vrouwen in de journalistiek kan helpen om de genderkloof te verkleinen’. https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/hoe-objectief-is-het-nieuws-van-vtm-en-vrt-meer-vrouwen-in-de-journalistiek-kan-helpen-om-de-genderkloof-…
- Beckers, K., Soontjens, K. & van Remoortere, A. (06-06-2023). Nu ook wetenschappelijk bewezen: De Standaard en co. zijn niet partijdig [Web]. Nu ook wetenschappelijk bewezen: De Standaard en co. zijn niet partijdig. https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20230604_97267862
- Beckers, K. (05-06-2023). 3 op 4 politici voelen zich benadeeld door journalisten in de Vlaamse media: "Vooral de rechtse partijen" [Radio] Radio 1 (Vlaanderen). 3 op 4 politici voelen zich benadeeld door journalisten in de Vlaamse media: "Vooral de rechtse partijen". https://radio1.be/luister/select/de-ochtend/3-op-4-politici-voelen-zich-benadeeld-door-journalisten-in-de-vlaamse-media-vooral-de-rechtse-partijen
- Beckers, K. & Verleyen, E. (22-02-2023). Asielzoekers komen vaker negatief in het nieuws dan (im)migranten en vluchtelingen [Print] Het Nieuwsblad. Asielzoekers komen vaker negatief in het nieuws dan (im)migranten en vluchtelingen. https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20230222_93854796
- Beckers, K. (16-04-2021). De sterke invloed van voxpops [Television]. De sterke invloed van voxpops. https://www.vpro.nl/argos/speel~WO_HUMAN_16495151~argos-medialogica-online-de-sterke-invloed-van-voxpops~.html
Talk / presentation
- Beckers, K. (speaker) (31-3-2018). Loopt de journalistiek te veel achter politieke peilingen aan?, Nederlandse ambassade in Brussel - De Buren. https://deburen.eu/programma/mediacafe-of-loopt-de-journalistiek-te-veel-achter-politieke-peilingen-aan
Others
- Beckers, K. (participant) (8-12-2023). Studiedag: Twintig jaar televisienieuws in Vlaanderen in het Vlaams Parlement, Brussel. Co-organisator en presentator van een studiedag in het Vlaams Parlement over twintig jaar inhoudsanalyse van televisiejournaals in Vlaanderen (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
- Beckers, K. (participant) (17-5-2023). European Press Freedom under Pressure, Amsterdam. Panel speaker at an event targeted toward the general public. European Press Freedom under Pressure. Spui 25, Amsterdam. (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
- Beckers, K. (participant) (1-2023). Series of workshops targeted at journalists organized by Emmi Verleyen (UAntwerpen), Laura Jacobs (ULB) & Kathleen Beckers on news coverage of immigration news, Belga Press Agency, Brussels.. Series of workshops targeted at journalists organized by Emmi Verleyen (UAntwerpen), Laura Jacobs (ULB) & Kathleen Beckers on news coverage of (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
2017
- Beckers, K. (2017). Vox pops : the content, selection and influence of vox pops in news coverage. [Thesis, fully external, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen]. Universiteit Antwerpen, Faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen, Departement Communicatiewetenschappen. https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1450730151162165141
2014
- Beckers, K. (2014). Het nieuws door de ogen van de financieel-economische expert : een inhoudsanalyse van voorkomen, kenmerken en uitspraken van experten in financieel-economisch televisienieuws. Steunpunt Media.
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Ancillary activities
No ancillary activities
Hendrickx, J., Beckers, K., & Van Droogenbroeck, K. (2026). Does News Diversity Work Among Audiences? A Citizen Experiment. Journalism Practice, 20(2), 458-474.