by Camilia Melícia Valgas
Journalism can play an important role in helping newcomers settle in
The journalism profession has traditionally served as a bridge promoting a shared understanding of current issues among citizens. For immigrants, contact with the news can help them understand local issues, learn the language, participate in social debates, and feel more connected to their new environment. But how do they navigate the current digital news landscape, where national borders are increasingly blurred?
To answer this question, we analyzed the news consumption habits of 30 immigrants living in the Netherlands, a country with a large and growing international community. This makes it a relevant case study within Europe.
Through in-depth interviews, media snapshots, smartphone data sharing, and map classification, our research uncovered three different types of news consumption characterized by the geographical origin of the news. Specifically, we found that immigrants are differently interested in news from their home countries, international sources, and the host society.
These three consumption patterns and their implications for media professionals and policymakers are outlined below.
News from the country of origin: emotional and conscious consumption
Digital media have virtually eliminated barriers to accessing news from participants’ countries of origin. They allow people to stay constantly connected, regardless of where they are. As a result, many participants turn to news media to evoke nostalgia and reinforce their cultural identity.
Furthermore, getting information in their mother tongue comforts them and deepens their connection to their country of origin, as expressed by Tamy (32) from Brazil: “I listen to the news in Portuguese and it makes me feel a little better, you know? I hear my language. Because I know I won’t hear anything in this language for the rest of the day.”
Consequently, news consumption from the country of origin is emotionally motivated for many participants. It is not just about staying informed, but also about maintaining a connection to their culture and identity.
In addition to this emotional commitment, participants consciously choose which news from their countries of origin they consume—and which they do not—demonstrating a high degree of intentionality. For example, many consciously reject state-controlled sources because they consider them unreliable, sensationalist, or censored, especially those they perceive as authoritarian in their country of origin.
Instead, some turn to independent journalists on social media and value their independence from the government or political parties. Even those who take a more neutral stance toward their government tend to choose sources that align with their political views. These choices reflect participants’ conscious efforts to seek out media they trust and reinforce the deliberate and emotionally motivated nature of their engagement.
International news: vigilant and entertainment-oriented consumption
In addition to news from their own countries, participants actively seek information about world events. To this end, they are interested in international broadcasters such as the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera, which are valued for their broad coverage. However, participants also point to possible biases in these sources.
Layla (27) from Egypt expresses this awareness: “The BBC has become a routine for me. I’ve been watching it for years. And while I’m not necessarily a big fan of their coverage, they keep me up to date with what’s going on in the world… They’re a British news organization, they have their own interests, which is fine. I follow them to stay informed, but I’m not going to take their word for it.”
This critical awareness encourages participants to diversify their sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of world events, as Chia-Jung (32), from Taiwan, mentions: “I think it’s the safest way to understand the world. Not just all the news or all the information from one source.”
When consuming international news, participants are mainly motivated by vigilance. They focus on major conflicts around the world and reflect a desire to stay informed about potential crises or geopolitical changes. Events in certain countries may also be important due to personal, social, and political connections. For example, people follow what is happening in the United States because of its global influence. At the same time, events in countries where participants have lived or where their families live are also of particular relevance.
Interestingly, some participants also showed an interest in foreign policy information, which they perceive as turbulent but emotionally distant: “I’m very interested in British politics because I find it less scary and threatening, because it’s very active politics, but it’s not my country.” (Emily, 40, from the United States)
This engagement blurs the line between serious and entertaining news and shows that politics in other countries can also serve as a form of entertainment. For many participants, international news is the only type of news that can provide a pleasant distraction. They find it easier to take an interest in distant issues that often lack emotional impact.
News from the host society: instrumental and incidental consumption
Participants are also interested in what is happening in their host society, in this case the Netherlands. They consume various sources of Dutch news, such as national and local public broadcasters, commercial newspapers, and alternative media created by immigrants. This diverse selection highlights their interest in their host society and their efforts to meet their information needs.
Participants consume local information mainly for instrumental reasons, to integrate culturally into Dutch society. Many see it as a tool for understanding local issues and participating in conversations about society, which underscores the normative function of the media in building social capital. In addition, language acquisition is another important motivation for consuming information about the host country.
Although participants recognize the value of national news for their cultural and social adaptation, they face three major challenges when consuming it. First, many immigrants do not know where to find Dutch media and instead rely on algorithmic recommendations (e.g., aggregators or social media algorithms). This often leads to accidental and unintentional consumption.
Second, the language barrier makes reading even more difficult. For this reason, they often rely heavily on machine translation tools. In addition, many prefer to read social media, as the texts there are shorter and integrated translation features make reading and understanding easier. However, due to the language barrier, navigating information about the host country remains challenging and mentally exhausting. This results in limited consumption compared to news in other languages.
Finally, many participants consider local data to be largely irrelevant to their daily lives, with the exception of migration-related issues. They often struggle with a lack of context and feel disconnected from important events, such as political developments or changes in government, which seem to have little impact on them.
This is especially true for those who do not have the right to vote, which reinforces feelings of political disempowerment. In addition, participants often view the Netherlands as a stable and safe country. This perception leads to the prevailing question: if nothing dramatic happens, why follow the news so closely?
Alternative media for immigrants
While mainstream media may seem irrelevant or difficult to access, alternative immigrant media play a crucial role in participants’ news consumption. These are social media profiles created by immigrants themselves that provide information about life in the Netherlands.
These platforms are a crucial source of data to help participants navigate their host society. This includes understanding local customs, bureaucratic procedures, and practical advice for everyday life.
These channels are particularly valuable because they are in languages that immigrants are fluent in, thus overcoming the language barrier: “It’s the Brazilian perspective. Everything is explained in Brazilian words that Brazilians already understand… I feel closer to what they are talking about.” (João, 34, from Brazil)
In addition, immigrant groups on Facebook and WhatsApp serve as community centers where participants share information, seek advice, and stay up to date on events relevant to their community: “If something happens here, it spreads like wildfire. All Indians will know what’s going on… We have too many groups (laughs).” (Veda, 37, from India)
For newcomers, these platforms remain an invaluable source of support, information, and cultural connection, fostering a sense of belonging and self-determination in the host society. However, their relevance tends to diminish over time as immigrants become more familiar with Dutch society and language.
Impact on policymakers and media professionals
Our study shows that while participants adapt to information consumption, they face significant challenges in engaging with everyday local news in their host society.
Practical barriers, such as unfamiliarity with sources and language difficulties, are compounded by psychological factors, in particular the perception of irrelevance. This perception often stems from the fact that participants find it difficult to develop a sense of belonging and socialization in the Netherlands.
This alienation is difficult to overcome, as developing a new identity that fits meaningfully into the host society is a fundamental part of cultural adaptation. This gradual process is characterized by ongoing engagement with the new environment and depends on mutual efforts by immigrants and non-immigrants to promote understanding and adaptation.
In this context, digital technologies, such as algorithms and translation technologies, are proving to be valuable tools for accessing and understanding news. Although language barriers remain, these tools can mitigate their exclusionary effect and facilitate the settlement of immigrants.
However, the growing reliance on algorithms for news consumption is a major cause for concern. While many immigrants appreciate the convenience of algorithmically curated news, studies show that these recommendations are often not sufficiently diverse and prioritize commercial interests over democratic participation.
As a result, the news they are exposed to may not adequately inform them about critical issues. In the long run, this can hinder their participation in society as informed citizens. Given that immigrants are already a marginalized group, it is crucial to continue researching how algorithmic recommendations influence their knowledge of current events and their civic engagement.
The growing reliance on algorithms also highlights the host society’s shortcomings in supporting immigrants in terms of information and media literacy. Government agencies and organizations offer minimal guidance to this population, revealing a gap with important practical implications.
The results also show that alternative media channels for immigrants play a crucial role in immigrants’ news consumption. These media bridge cultural differences and provide information in a way that is understandable and familiar to immigrant communities.
Note: This article is an abridged version of a forthcoming scientific article. All ideas and content are drawn from the original work, currently under review for academic publication.
*Pseudonyms are used to preserve the anonymity of participants and ensure data protection.
This article was originally published, News as guidance in the digital immigration society, was originally published by European Journalism Observatory on 15 April 2025.