Deliberation Against Disinformation: Can Citizens’ Assemblies Contribute to Countering DIsinformation and Improving Audience–Media Relations?

The news media has traditionally played a vital role in democratic societies by providing truthful, timely, and impartial information, enabling citizens to make informed political decisions (Schudson, 2001; Kovach & Rosenstiel, 2014). Over time, accountability mechanisms such as ethical codes, press councils, and ombudspersons have been implemented to penalize deviations from professional conduct, shaping public expectations about journalism. With the proliferation of digital technologies, political information environments have become more democratized. Citizens no longer rely exclusively on traditional news outlets for political information, as they now have access to a broad range of alternative sources, including political leaders, bloggers, social media influencers, and fringe movements (Flew, 2020). While the diversification of information sources has enabled marginalized voices to be heard, it has also given rise to the rapid spread of disinformation, contributing to an epistemic crisis in contemporary democracies (Neuberger et al., 2023). The spread of false or misleading information represents a significant challenge to the democratic process. Efforts to combat disinformation have centered on strategies such as fact-checking and media literacy—which require the involvement of professional journalism for effective and sustainable information strategies. The effectiveness of news media in fulfilling its normative role depends on an open and receptive audience, which is increasingly difficult to achieve. Many countries are experiencing declining trust in the media, rising news avoidance, and anti-press sentiment, which complicates citizens’ ability to differentiate between professional journalism and disinformation. In this context, combating disinformation requires addressing the deteriorating relationship between the media and the audience. We argue that deliberation can play a crucial role in addressing disinformation and improving audience-media relations. Deliberation, which encourages reasoned, inclusive, and thoughtful discussions, can help citizens understand complex issues, evaluate arguments based on merit, and bridge the trust gap between the media and the public. By fostering a deliberative environment, citizens can develop the tools to critically engage with information, which is essential for combating disinformation. To support our arguments, we draw on findings from a citizens’ assembly held in Serbia, involving 45 participants from diverse backgrounds. Over the course of two days, participants engaged in small-group discussions and plenary sessions with media experts and policymakers. The findings suggest that deliberation in the form of citizens’ assemblies can contribute to improved understanding of disinformation, reduce support for punitive measures, foster trust in professional media, particularly fact-checking organizations and self-regulatory mechanisms, and offer valuable insights into strategies for addressing information disorder.