Distorted Views from the Top? Investigating Misperceptions among Italian Journalists and Politicians

A now well-established body of research has described the phenomenon of misperceptions from various perspectives. These are understood as deeply held but factually incorrect beliefs, or beliefs that contradict the best available public evidence, concerning politically salient issues. Misperceptions are considered problematic for the proper functioning of democratic processes, as they hinder citizens’ ability to accurately assess the nature of collective problems and the merits of different policy proposals. The widespread presence of inaccurate perceptions can therefore lead to support for counterproductive political decisions, or opposition to effective solutions to pressing issues. At the same time, misperceptions are more difficult to correct than mere lack of information. While the latter can be addressed through the provision of accurate information, the former often stem from cognitive biases that lead individuals to select and interpret information in ways that reinforce their pre-existing beliefs. In such cases, the availability of correct information does not necessarily represent an effective remedy. While these dynamics have been extensively examined with reference to citizens more broadly, the international literature has paid surprisingly little attention to journalists and politicians—two groups that, however, occupy a central role in the production and circulation of information in contemporary societies. This paper offers an initial exploration of misperceptions within these two groups, drawing on the findings of two parallel surveys conducted among Italian journalists and politicians (at both national and local levels). The survey, administered in March 2025 and funded within the MiMeSys project funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, gathered data on both information and misinformation concerning a range of politically salient topics (such as climate change, immigration, security, military spending, and genetically modified organisms), as well as data on media consumption patterns, political positioning on various issues, and levels of trust in institutions and democratic values.