This study examines how the concept of populism is used, contextualized, and framed in Swedish news journalism. Rather than analyzing populism as a political phenomenon or ideology in itself, the study focuses on the journalistic use of the term populism and its linguistic and contextual applications in news texts. The analysis is based on articles published in two major Swedish national newspapers, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet, during the period 2020–2024.

Using a quantitative content analysis, the study investigates in which journalistic text types the term populism appears, who uses the term, which actors are described as populist, and how populism is ideologically framed. The study also compares similarities and differences between the two newspapers in their use of the concept. The theoretical framework draws on theories of populism as a “thin-centered ideology,” as well as concepts of media logic, media populism, and framing theory, which together enable an analysis of populism as a journalistic and discursively constructed concept.

The results show that the term populism most frequently appears in news reporting and opinion-related texts and is predominantly used by journalists rather than quoted sources. Political actors constitute the largest group described as populist, with international politicians appearing more often than domestic ones. The concept is also more frequently associated with male actors, reflecting broader patterns of personalization and leadership focus in political journalism. Ideologically, populism is most commonly framed in relation to right-wing politics, although the term is also applied across a wider ideological spectrum, indicating a flexible and sometimes ambiguous use. While Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet display largely similar patterns in their use of the concept, some differences are identified regarding who uses the term and how clearly it is ideologically anchored. Overall, the findings suggest that populism is often employed as a broad and loosely defined label rather than as a clearly specified analytical concept. This flexible use may contribute to simplified or reductive representations of political actors and issues, potentially influencing how readers understand contemporary politics. The study highlights the importance of critically examining journalistic language and contributes to a deeper understanding of how populist concepts are constructed and given meaning within news media.