How Online Newspaper Headlines Sway Opinion: Analysis of Online Newspaper Readership Patterns among Facebook Users (original) (raw)
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ABSTRACT This research work examines the perception of the Audience on the Credibility of Social Media Platforms as source of Breaking News Stories in Nigeria. It argues that the internet is a strong communication avenue in this age of digital communication which allows for an instantaneous posting of news messages online. It maintains that the internet cum social media gives room for journalists and citizen journalists (Freelancers) to write as much as possible and meet yearnings of people. The study aims at finding out whether online versions of breaking news stories in Nigeria are credible and acceptable by the audience who consumes such media contents. In order to drive home the argument of the study, the researcher adopted media effects called “medium is the message” as the theoretical framework for the study. Using survey method, the researchers sampled the opinions of respondents; it was however revealed that there were lots of negative trends associated with the online news medium which was not healthy for the corporate existence of the nation and journalism practice in particular. Base on the findings, the researchers recommend that scholars and professionals in the sector should re-examine the whole essence of social media for optimal result in communication. Keywords: Audience, Perception, Social Media, Internet, Credibility, Breaking News, Freelancers.
Numerical Humanism: Values and Models for Tomorrow, 2017
This study used online survey to examine social media news aggregation trends, gratifications and implications on Nigeria’s development. Research shows that social media is changing the ways readers understand the concept of news and the processes of its production in developed countries (Digital News Survey, 2016). Social media platforms are also very popular sources of news in less endowed regions like Nigeria. Meanwhile, social media aggregates news using algorithms – a set of instructions – to replace professional journalists’ traditional news values and newsroom cultures. The study found similar results with the Digital News Survey cited above. Social media was the general source of Nigerian news and Facebook was the most popular social medium used as major source of news. Mobile devices were the most used for accessing news on Facebook. Knowledge of trends on social media news gathering and distribution was poor. Three basic journalism news elements – objectivity, truth and balance were used to develop a model for gratifications from social media news and all significantly predicted audience gratifications. Promoting public participation significantly predicted the role of social media news in Nigeria’s development process out of five variables. Some of the implications on Nigeria’s development are discussed.
EXAMINING ONLINE NEWS: A GRICEAN MAXIM ANALYSIS OF NEWS OUTLET FACEBOOK PAGES
This study explored how digital news outlets adhere to and violate the Gricean conversational maxims, namely quantity, quality, relation, and manner. Using a qualitative research design, 60 Facebook posts from three digital news outlets in Sorsogon, Philippines were analyzed based on the criteria set by H.P. Grice. It was found that the news outlets adhere to the Gricean conversational maxims, especially those of quality and relation. However, there were also instances when they clearly violated the maxims such as those of quantity and manner. These findings suggest that the news outlets share truthful and relevant news, but at the same time, they also disseminate unclear messages that lack important details. The analysis further revealed that the creators of these FB posts which do not observe the Gricean maxims have different motives or purposes. The most common possible motives are to emphasize a point, so the readers' attention is drawn towards a particular piece of information in the post and to capture or sustain the readers' interest so that they stay tuned for updates about the issue. Hence, the public needs to be more critical in examining FB posts of these news outlets and the possible motives behind every news story for a better understanding and interpretation of media messages.
Level of Acceptance of News Stories on Social Media Platforms Among Youth in Nigeria
Jurnal Komunikasi Malaysian Journal of Communication, 2021
This study investigates the level of acceptance of news stories on social media platforms among youth in Nigeria following the assumption that the proliferation of news stories on social media promotes the circulation of both factual and fake news. The sample consisted of 600 youth; however, 583 validly participated in the study. The participants were equitably selected in six States in Nigeria that represented the six geo-political zones of the country. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed to evenly select the youth from the major cities/towns in the States. Data generated were analysed and presented through descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20 software. Results show that the youth accepted entertainment news stories more than any other type of news stories on social media platforms. The majority of the youth considered Twitter as the most acceptable social media platform for receiving news stories in Nigeria. Findings also revealed that despite their love to read news stories on social media platforms, the youth's level of acceptance of it was low. Furthermore, the age and gender of the youth were found to directly influence their level of acceptance of news stories on social media platforms. The study concluded that the multi-dimensional interplay that characterised the low level of acceptance of news stories on social media platforms among the youth in Nigeria does not portend ominous signs.
THE USE AND BELIEVABILITY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS NEWS AMONG NIGERIAN YOUTHS
This study examined the use of social networks news and their level of believability among young people in Nigeria. Since social networks involve users " generated content, the sources and truthfulness of these contents are sometimes iffy. With the credibility problem associated with social media news, it is necessary to determine the extent to which social media users believe the news content they receive from these social networks. This study adopted the survey research design with a sample size of 300 young people. The findings show that social networks have become a major source of news among young people because of the networks " interactivity, connectivity, immediacy and speed of dissemination. Besides, over 70% prefer the use of social media to traditional mass media due mainly to convenience. However, the level of believability of social network is still very low; an indication of low-level credibility of the social media. It is, therefore, necessary that social network users ensure exchange of credible information and users should always crosscheck information obtained with other available sources before acceptance and possible second dissemination.
Greener Journal of Internet, Information and Communication Systems
Social networking sites have been sources of information just as the traditional mass media. This study aims at determining the implications of the rise in social networking sites on the newspaper industry. The objectives of this study in Nsukka urban area are to find out the level of awareness of people about social networking sites; to investigate the level of usage of these sites; and to examine the implications of the rise of these sites on the newspaper industry. This work uses survey research method. The study uses descriptive statistics for the analysis of the gathered data and the results show that people are very much aware of social networking sites and also use them; most of the respondents also believe that social networking sites are increasing. In addition, majority of the respondents prefer social networking sites to newspapers. Their preference of the social networking sites are due to their lower cost, prompt access to information, immediate feedback capability, unlimited access in the use of networks, access to real time recordings and a wider coverage. Also, the use of social networking sites has caused a decrease in readership and sales and is seen as credible source of information. Based on the above findings, it is recommended that the newspaper industry should reappraise their activities and operations to devise ways of making the newspaper relevant amidst the rise of social networking sites.
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
The drift of readers, viewers and advertisers from newspapers and broadcast stations to online news publications is not only limited to the developed world but has also become a visible trend in the developing countries such as Nigeria. Since Professor Marsha MacLuah opined in 1987 that the world would become a hamlet of communication, online publication has truly made the world a global village by providing easy access to the media contents which the readers at their convenient times and places can read as the news breaks. This study examines trends and patterns of online publications in Nigeria. This study is anchored on two theories: the technological determinism theory and the mediamorphosis theory of mass communication. It employs content analysis as its design so as to know what constitutes the trend and pattern of online newspapers in Nigeria, in this case, Sahara Reporters and Premium Times. After the analysis of trends of the two selected online news media shows that the selected media, it was discovered that they have a penchant for deep investigative stories and multimedia presentation with hyperlinks that make it easy for readers to navigate to other sections of the stories. It was also discovered that the two online newspapers usually link their stories to video clips which the readers could watch with their mobile devices. This can be concluded to be one of the major innovations that drive online newspapers, which has also increased the adoption of the news platforms by online audiences. It was recommended that media owners should not allow the commercial interest to derail them from the media social responsibility expected of it in the society by using latest technology to make access to information easy for their readers.
Trends and Patterns of Online Newspapers in Nigeria: A Study of Sahara Reporters and Premium Times
IJRSS, 2021
The drift of readers, viewers and advertisers from newspapers and broadcast stations to online news publications is not only limited to the developed world but has also become a visible trend in the developing countries such as Nigeria. Since Professor Marsha MacLuah opined in 1987 that the world would become a hamlet of communication, online publication has truly made the world a global village by providing easy access to the media contents which the readers at their convenient times and places can read as the news breaks. This study examines trends and patterns of online publications in Nigeria. This study is anchored on two theories: the technological determinism theory and the mediamorphosis theory of mass communication. It employs content analysis as its design so as to know what constitutes the trend and pattern of online newspapers in Nigeria, in this case, Sahara Reporters and Premium Times. After the analysis of trends of the two selected online news media shows that the se...
Facebook Usage Towards Reading Interest at News Portal MERDEKA.COM in North Cikarang
2017
Popularity of social media have grown since the early of 2000. They have eased people in exchanging information and sustaining relationship. In addition, social media have become an alternative for news distribution and consumption. One of popular social media platforms is Facebook in which many media organizations have utilized it as a medium for sharing information including news to provide up-to-date information, to increase article views, as well as to increase website traffics to visit their news portals. This research attempted to investigate the influence of Facebook usage towards reading interest at news portal merdeka.com, a study in North Cikarang. Theory used in this study wasUses and Gratification and the method was quantitative in nature. The data were collected through questionnaires for 100 respondents and SPSS 20 was employed to process the data. The result has shown that Facebook usage influenced 30.6% towards reading interest at news portal merdeka.com and the regr...
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MODERN JOURNALISM. STUDY OF ABAKALIKI AND ENUGU METROPOLIS
The study evaluated the impacts of social media on modern journalism and discovered that social media is emerging as a powerful phenomenon across Nigeria as showcased by popular citizen journalism websites. The Sahara Reporters, one of such websites, is noted for its timely reports on issues and events as evidenced in a study conducted by Dare (2011, p.44) where 86 of the 120 respondents surveyed cited the Sahara reporters as a source of breaking news. By its interactivity and ability to deliver news in split seconds, social media have posed a serious challenge to the modern journalism in Nigeria. In congruency with the Democratic Participant Media Theory and the Public Sphere model, the researcher came to the reasoned conclusion that in this modern age, the social media have emerged as alternative news sources, since audiences now depend on them largely in meeting their information needs. In as much as social media in Nigeria has broadened people's access to a variety of news, this study suggests that a proper synergy between the modern journalism and social media is recommended to ascertain the best way(s) forward, for effective and efficient journalism practices in the country which will suit the modern age. The need therefore to sensitize Nigerian citizen journalists on proper use of this emerging brand of journalism is obvious. Among other things, it was recommended that operators of social media should endeavour to observe the core ethics of conventional journalism, that is, accuracy and objectivity in their news dissemination responsibilities.