Media Credibility Research Articles

Cultural context in credibility studies: A multidimensional perspective

the purpose of this article was to examine the role of culture in credibility assessment and determine to what extent it was applicable to media studies. Existing quantitative research in media credibility neglects cultural dimensions in communication process. This article addresses this gap by offering a theoretical, multidimensional model of cultural and communication components that influence media credibility across and within cultures. The main consideration for future studies includes testing the model components of this paper in different contexts.

Mapping Credibility Scale of Sources of Political News Stories Through Perception Lenses of Pakistani Youth: Analysis of Governmental vs. Non-Governmental and Conflicting Political News Sources

Research was designed to evaluate the credibility perception of youth regarding different mainstream and new media sources of political news. This study adopted questionnaire survey method as a research design of the study. The sample was drawn using probability proportional to size (PPS) and random sampling techniques. For the purpose of investigation, 375 respondents from Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan’s approved universities/degree awarding institutions (DAIs) were selected for the purpose of data collection. The findings of the study revealed that in case the respondents are encountered with the conflicting version of political news stories, they considered traditional TV news channels and newspapers as first and second most credible political news sources respectively. Additionally, it was also found that the majority of the youth perceived live streaming of traditional TV news channels and news websites that are associated with the mainstream news sources (traditional TV news channels and newspapers) as first and second most credible online sources of political news respectively. Additionally, this research also found that the majority of the respondents considered non-governmental sources of political news as most credible. Overall, the study concluded that the respondents still perceived traditionally delivered political news as highly credible sources of political news. Key Words: Media Credibility, Political News, Credibility Perception, Mainstream Media, New Media.

News Media Performance Evaluated by National Audiences: How Media Environments and User Preferences Matter

Media fragmentation and polarization have contributed to blurring the lines between professional and non-professional journalism. Internationally, more fragmented-polarized media environments are often associated with the emergence of non-professional news providers, the weakening of journalistic standards, and the segmentation of audiences along ideological leanings. Furthermore, these environments are home to partisan and alternative news media outlets, some of which try to actively undermine the credibility of traditional mainstream media in their reporting. By following an audience-centric approach, this study investigates the consequences of more fragmented-polarized media environments and consumption habits on users’ perceptions of news media performance. We use online-survey data from five countries that differ in the extent of fragmentation and polarization in the media environment (CH = 1,859, DK = 2,667, IT = 2,121, PL = 2,536, US = 3,493). We find that perceptions of high news media performance are more likely to be expressed by citizens from less fragmented-polarized media environments. Positive perceptions of news media performance are also stronger among users of traditional media, and those who inform themselves in a more attitude-congruent manner. By contrast, citizens from more fragmented-polarized media environments and users of alternative news media tend to express less satisfaction with news media performance. Based on these results, we argue that perceptions of news media performance among news users are shaped by their individual media choices as well as by the composition of the news media environments that surrounds them.

Abstract A010: Primary prevention across the life course: Findings from the young women's breast cancer and media study

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is typically seen as a disease of mid-life, but growing evidence supports primary prevention throughout women's lives. Little is known about the salience of breast cancer prevention messages for younger women, especially those at risk for breast cancer disparities. Description: Our multiphase exploratory project first analyzed a purposive sample of news and popular media messages on breast cancer aimed at young adults. We then used these mainstream and tailored media examples in 7 focus groups with Philadelphia-area African-American, Latina, Asian-American, and sexual minority women age 21-30. Identity-concordant moderators explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding health in general and breast cancer specifically, and media credibility and usage patterns. Then, guided discussion of breast cancer-related media examples was used to explore audience interpretation and response to messaging. Responses to a brief structured survey and transcribed audio-recordings of focus group discussions were analyzed. Findings: Participants had diverse levels of socioeconomic and health-related resources: 40% were born outside of the U.S., 37% were uninsured, and 37% had < high school education. Most used social media (i.e., 86% Facebook, 71% Instagram), 83% read on-line news at least weekly, and 63% had searched on-line for cancer information. When asked about cancer prevention across the life course, many young women expressed limitations on ideal health behaviors at their current life stage, due to economic constraints or stressors related to school, job or family. Respondents had little knowledge of evidence supporting risk-reducing behaviors, such as breast feeding, diet and physical activity, or limiting alcohol. Most found both mainstream and culturally tailored messages about breast cancer new and compelling; however, some challenged group-specific risk information or saw culturally tailored messages as geared to older, less acculturated women. Although young women recognized the importance of risk reduction, most felt that behavior change would be more feasible, and more important, when they were older. Conclusions: Young women of all backgrounds and levels of access to information are not well informed about primary prevention of breast cancer. Tailored information has salience but may also need to consider generational and life-stage effects. Planning for health behavior change during young adult transitional stages appears highly salient, but must consider life roles, which widely differ by SES and culture. Citation Format: Ann Carroll Klassen, Udara Perera, Suzanne Grossman, Ana Martinez-Donate, Augusta Villanueva, Zujeil Flores, Amy Leader, HeeSoon Juon. Primary prevention across the life course: Findings from the young women's breast cancer and media study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A010.

Between authoritarianism and democracy: Examining news media usage for political re-socialization and information acquisition in diasporic contexts

While political scholars study news media as agents of political learning, the processes of political re-socialization of a conflict-generated diaspora moving from authoritarian to democratic regimes pose significant theoretical challenges that remain insufficiently researched. To this end, this study investigates the importance of traditional and digital media sources from the homeland and host country in fostering refugees’ understanding of the democratic norms and values, and political opportunities offered by the receiving country. Furthermore, it investigates the role of online diaspora communities as agents for political re-socialization and tools for information acquisition about Arabic, Swiss and international politics. Sixty semi-structured interviews with Arabs from refugee origins in Switzerland were analysed. Findings show the influence of the early-life political socialization, received prior to forced migration, on the purposive consumption of media from various sources. As Facebook started to lose its value as a source of political information, participants shift to producing and consuming news distributed by strong ties on private WhatsApp groups as a counter-strategy to acquire trustworthy information. Further insights on the impact of perceived media credibility and individual trust in news on the consumption behaviour and political learning are discussed.

Mainstream and nonmainstream media in Malaysia: Does lack of credibility lead to displacement?

The study examined how Malaysians perceive the credibility of mainstream versus alternative media in reporting on the public interest issue of the implementation of a goods and service tax (GST). Consistent with past research, our study established a positive link between credibility and media use. Further analysis shows an increase in the use of alternative media when the credibility of mainstream media decreases, suggesting support for a significant displacement effect.

Achieving national cancer governance reform: Lessons from a successful academic, clinical, and community advocacy approach in New Zealand.

e14131 Background: Cancer survival in New Zealand (NZ) is high in global terms but gains in outcome are less than in comparable countries over recent time cohorts. Outcomes of indigenous Māori New Zealanders are significantly worse for most major cancers. This is potentially due to decentralisation of cancer provision and lack of emphasis on national governance. Methods: In 2017, academics, clinicians and patient advocates embarked on a planned and sustained programme of advocacy with the goal of establishing a national cancer plan, centralised cancer governance, and publicly reportable cancer outcomes and quality indicators by region and ethnicity. Elements central to success were partnerships with politicians and opposition parties, building credible media voices, establishing international academic collaborations, clear problem identification, positive evidence-based policy solutions, sustained and consistent yet varied media messaging, and strong relatable patient stories with direct citizen engagement. Results: As a direct result, in 2019 the Government established a National Cancer Agency, updated the national cancer plan for the first time in 16 years, moved to dissolve regional cancer networks, and appointed a national director of cancer control. New funding specifically for cancer investment was also announced and commitments to additional funding have been made. We review the strategies that were most successful, challenges encountered, and outcomes achieved. Conclusions: Advocacy and collaboration between patients, academics and clinicians remains a powerful stimulus for meaningful policy change. Our approach can be instructive for other countries where national cancer control and governmental leadership are faltering.

Talking Politics: The Relationship Between Supportive and Opposing Discussion With Partisan Media Credibility and Use

In this article, we test a dynamic intracommunication process looking at the relationships between interpersonal discussion, perceived credibility of partisan media, and partisan media use. Using the theoretical foundation of hostile media perceptions, with a specific focus on relative hostile media, we examine whether interpersonal communication affects perceived credibility of liberal and conservative media outlets and whether these effects translate into increased use or avoidance of partisan media outlets. Using data collected during the 2016 U.S. election, we find that supportive interpersonal discussion is associated with greater perceived credibility of liberal media outlets (e.g., MSNBC) among liberals, which results in increased use of liberal leaning news outlets. In addition, we find that discussion with those who hold opposing views is associated with increased perceived credibility of conservative media outlets (e.g., Fox News) among conservatives, which translates into greater use of conservative leaning outlets. Similarly, talking to those who hold opposing views decreases perceived credibility of liberal media outlets (e.g., MSNBC) among conservatives, resulting in decreased use of liberal leaning outlets.

BBC Sex-for-Grades-Report: Nigeria Tertiary Institutions ‘Crisis Management Strategies and Stakeholders’ Reactions

Studies have already acknowledged sexual scandals as public relations nightmares of higher institutions of learning. Therefore, we examined the crisis management strategies of Nigerian tertiary institutions and stakeholders’ reactions after the British Broadcasting Corporation’s sex-for-grades report. Adopting qualitative research, we analysed 13 available press releases of institutions retrieved from some institutions’ websites and sampled opinions of 20 stakeholders comprising parents, students and lecturers through a depth interview. We used Coombs’ theory of crisis response strategies: denial, diminish, rebuild and bolstering as thematic categories. We discovered that the institutions mostly used denial with diminish response strategy to blame societal decadence, scapegoat female students for and downplayed the severity of sexual harassment incidence by the institutions. More so, all the stakeholders distrust the credibility of local media in the reportage of sexual harassment cases. However, female students feel aggrieved that school administrations and national government neglected them for failing to outlaw sexual harassment and severely punish offenders. Therefore, we recommend that considering stakeholders’ perception of sexual harassment incidence in Nigerian ivory tower, Nigerian higher educational institutions should not adopt denial response strategy for sex scandal cases.

The Effects of Native Advertising Message Types on Consumer's Attitude toward Advertising: Moderating Effects of Self-Regulating Focus and Media Credibility

The Effects of Native Advertising Message Types on Consumer's Attitude toward Advertising: Moderating Effects of Self-Regulating Focus and Media Credibility

Somebody Google a Doctor! Urgent Health Information Seeking Habits of Young Adults

Introduction: While much scholarship has been done on health information-seeking habits, comparatively little has been done on these habits among young adults. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine to which media young adults turn during an urgent health crisis, which factors correspond to their choice, and if information-seeking corresponded to visiting a health professional. Method: A survey method was used, sampling students from two large universities. Results: Credibility was the most consistent factor in predicting respondent media choice for an urgent health matter. Whether respondents were socially conservative or liberal affected media choice, as did perceptions of online and traditional media credibility. Searching for health information online corresponded to more frequently visiting health professionals. Conclusion: This study supports that young adults turn to a variety of media sources, traditional and online, during health crisis and that this information-seeking does correspond to visiting health professionals after.

The trustworthiness of travel and tourism information sources of social media: perspectives of international tourists visiting Ethiopia

Credibility of social media travel information sources is one of the most debatable topics among scholars. This research is designed to address the trustworthiness of travel and tourism information sources of social media platforms. Cross-sectional research design and convenience sampling was applied. Statistical Package for Social Science version 23 was employed to compute mean, one sample T-test, independent sample T-test and one-way Analysis of variance. Eta squared was calculated to measure the effect size or magnitude of mean difference. The effective sample size is 310 visitors. The findings revealed that visitors had a positive perception towards the trustworthiness of social media travel information sources. Visitors with the age of 18–35 years have a higher level of agreement towards the trustworthiness of social media travel information sources. As the age of visitors increases, the mean scores marginally decreases where the lowest mean scores lay on visitors who are above 46 years. Limitations and managerial/industrial implications are detailed.

It Depends on Who’s Asking: Interviewer Gender Effects on Credibility Ratings of Male and Female Journalists in Six Arab Countries

Abstract This study examined interviewer gender effects on attitudes toward male and female journalists in a survey experiment in six Arab countries. Respondents (N = 5,040) in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and UAE were read a scenario, by a male or female interviewer, of either a male or female journalist covering a political scandal, and were then asked about the journalist’s perceived credibility. Interviewer gender affected ratings of journalist conscientiousness in four of six countries (positively in Tunisia and UAE, and negatively in Jordan and Lebanon), and negatively affected knowledgeability ratings in Lebanon. Implications for research on media credibility, gender bias, and survey research are discussed.

Seeing Eye to Eye: A Comparison of Audiences’ and Journalists’ Perceptions of Professional Roles and How They Relate to Trust

ABSTRACT The “gap” between journalist and audience expectations could be one reason why news media credibility is generally low. Journalistic expectations are often explored through analysis of the news worker’s role in society. One understudied topic in roles literature is perceptions of newer contextual reporting roles that consider society’s best interests: reporting in a socially responsible manner, alerting the public of threats and opportunities, accurately portraying the world, and contributing to society’s well-being. A representative survey of 1047 U.S. residents demonstrated audience perceptions of these contextual roles and more traditional journalistic roles. Responses were then compared to similar surveys of news professionals. Findings indicate that U.S. audiences diverge from journalists—especially newspaper/online journalists—in their role estimations, including more positive evaluations of adversarial and political roles. However, the order of role preference was largely similar among the groups, and both citizens and journalists highly valued contextual roles. Subsequent analyses showed that audience role perceptions influenced news trust more than demographics such as political ideology. Citizen belief in adversarial and disseminator journalistic roles strongly predicted greater trust in news reports.

Governance role of media information’s uncertainty in IPO market-oriented pricing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how signals of uncertainty in the media affect retail investor decisions and initial public offering (IPO) underpricing through theoretical and empirical methods. Design/methodology/approach The authors construct a theoretical model of the influence of media signals on IPO pricing, which describes the micro process in which uncertain signals in media influence retail investors’ decisions and IPO underpricing. Besides, the authors take 516 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) listed in A-share from July 2009 to December 2012 as samples for empirical tests and establish an in-depth learning model for text analysis with Java programming to measure Chinese media tone. Finally, the results of the model analysis are verified by empirical results. Findings The results show that authoritative media with high credibility can reduce the uncertainty of information sources attract more investors’ attention and improve the valuation and demand of retail investors. The higher the media credibility is the higher the IPO underpricing rate is. The uncertain tone of the media will increase the decision-making cost of investors reduce the valuation expectation and demand of the secondary market and lead to a lower IPO underpricing rate. Originality/value The authors study the influence of the uncertainty of media source and media content on the degree of IPO underpricing of SMEs. This is a useful supplement to the Chinese media tone research system that is still in the exploration stage. The research has reference value for government regulation and investor decision-making.

Journalism Credibility in the Digital Age – Examining Shifts in Paradigms

This paper set out to explore the dominant measures of media credibility that have stood as a hallmark since the 1930s. By investigating their origins, the paper appends an old, and yet overlooked measure - “the local context”, to the already existing ones: source, message, medium, and web credibility. The paper highlights historical antecedents that support the claim and the argument that credibility, and especially in the digital age requires an extended understanding that includes the context or environment. By so doing, we would be able to explain why people choose to believe in inaccurate or false information. Predominantly, the paper interrogates why individuals in echo-chambers believe that a particular source, message, medium, or web is credible regardless of the content of the message.

The Press, National Security, and Civil Discourse

The Constitution expressly provides protection for the freedom of the press. Yet there is one area in which the press is not so free: the freedom to refuse disclosing confidential sources when subpoenaed by the federal government. Currently, there is no federal reporter’s privilege. The Supreme Court has held the First Amendment provides no such protection, and repeated congressional attempts to codify a reporter’s privilege in a federal shield law have failed. Arguments against a shield law include national security concerns and the struggle to precisely define “journalist.” Such concerns were evident in the most recently proposed shield law, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2017. This Comment advocates in favor of passing a federal shield law. Specifically, this Comment analyzes the Free Flow of Information Act of 2017 against the backdrop of a post-9/11 America where “fake news” runs rampant. Though far from perfect, the proposed law was a step toward balancing national security concerns with press freedom. Legislators can and should strike an effective balance between these two tensions by accurately defining terms like “national security” and “properly classified” to prevent government overreach. Finally, this Comment argues that a federal shield law is necessary to combat the recent national security concerns raised by “fake news” and thereby reaffirm media credibility.

Digital media vs mainstream media: Exploring the influences of media exposure and information preference as correlates of media credibility

Rapid advancements in new media technologies have empowered presumed inactive mass media consumers to become active content creators on digital media platforms. The overarching implication of this ...

DO BLACK LIVE MATTER AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

Aim/Purpose: This article aims at exploring how systemic racism predisposes Canadian Blacks to COVID 19 infection, thereby raising the question as to whether Black Live Matters amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Although many discourses about Blacks' vulnerability abound in the public media and academic literature, their vulnerabilities seem to have been overlooked amid the current COVID-19 global health crisis. Since COVID-19 was detected public health authorities deem older people, children, Indigenous people, and low-income Canadian families and those with weakened immune systems from underlying medical conditions as vulnerable to the pandemic. One group of people conspicuously missing from the vulnerable groups’ list is Black people. Drawing on evidence-based data from secondary sources, the article demonstrates that the gravities of the COVID-19 pandemic are deepening racial inequalities in Canada. The article also illustrates how many Black people and other racialized groups are at increased risk of COVID 19 infections and deaths due to a longstanding health inequality. Methodology: This study relies on evidence-based data drawn from various secondary sources, including academic papers, policy briefs, government reports, credible media sources, press notes and advisories, current newspapers, and online media reportage of the unfolding health crisis about COVID-19 to demonstrate that the gravities of the COVID-19 pandemic are deepening racial inequalities in Canada. Although research that articulates existing studies on Black people and the COVID-19 pandemic is very scanty, this paper is mostly exploratory as it emphasizes synthesizing secondary sources of literature review. Findings: The study finds that many Black people and other racialized groups are at increased risk of COVID 19 infections and deaths due to a longstanding health inequality. Further, the paper demonstrates that, historically, social determinants of health have prevented Black people from equal access to economic, social and healthcare opportunities. And thus, have exposed a longstanding systemic racism in employment, housing, education, and healthcare. Finally, the paper recommends two innovative strategies to achieve social transformation: 1) Black Canadians should shift from vulnerability to recognizing their vitalities/resiliencies and 2) building allyships with other oppressed groups to stop the spread of the two pandemics: anti-black racism and COVID-19. Impact on Society: This paper does not only contribute to our knowledge about the challenges Black people experience during the pandemic, but also enhances our understanding about the innovative strategy to defeat anti-black racism. This strategy implies that the time has come for Black Canadians to move beyond their vulnerabilities to discover their vitality and agency – moving from the discourse of victim hood to resilience, agency, vitality and creativity

Utilization of Social Media in Young Families as Media Parenting in the Millennial Era

Parenting activities in young families at this time have experienced a very fast development that is from activities that are offline to online. This is due to the development of information technology that presents a variety of new information can be spread very quickly. Social media was chosen as a source of learning for young families in providing learning experiences, especially about child development and answers to various problems that arise in the process of forming a family. the findings show that social media which later became a discussion forum in cyberspace has been considered as a more credible media for discussion, exchanging experiences. Social media has become one of the most popular sources of learning among young families.