News as bridge or barrier? The role of news consumption in immigrants’ sense of belonging

Authors Camila Valgas, Sanne Kruikemeier, Tim Groot Kormelink, Yael de Haan
Published in Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
Publication date 2026
Research groups Quality Journalism in Digital Transition
Type Article

Summary

This study examines how immigrants’ news consumption relates to their sense of belonging in the receiving society. We conceptualize news consumption along three dimensions (frequency, sources, and trust) and analyze associations with belonging, controlling for age, gender, education, length of stay, language proficiency, migration pathway, and friendships. Drawing on an eight-language survey of 633 immigrants in the Netherlands, results show that friendships with natives are most strongly associated with belonging, followed by trust in news. Consuming Dutch media was also positively associated with belonging, particularly among immigrants with fewer native friends. The findings underscore news as a conditional resource for belonging.

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On this publication contributed

  • Camila Valgas
    Camila Valgas
    • PhD candidate
    • Research group: Quality Journalism in Digital Transition
  • Yael de Haan
    Yael de Haan
    • Professor
    • Research group: Quality Journalism in Digital Transition
Language English
Published in Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
Key words immigrants, journalism, news consumption, sense of belonging
Digital Object Identifier 10.1080/17475759.2026.2702349
Page range 1-21