The credibility of newscasts in public service media in Spain

 Xosé Soengas-Pérez, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

 Marta Rodríguez-Castro, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

 Francisco Campos-Freire, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C76-2023-06

Keywords

Credibility, pluralism, public service media, audiences, journalism, newscast

Abstract

The audiences of generalist television's newscasts reflect that the viewers’ interests and loyalties are constantly changing. Research shows that several elements influence the success of programs and formats, but in this paper, we draw attention to the factors that determine the credibility of newscasts. We also want to know how pluralism is safeguarded in newscasts, as we consider that credibility and pluralism are two intertwined values that influence one another. As credibility is a subjective value, it is required to find new information criteria that is suitable and of the utmost rigor. The main aim is to delve into whether there is a consensus on the basic parameters for the definition, identification, and assessment of credibility of nationwide public service media in Spain. Moreover, we are also interested in whether audience figures can be used to determine the degree of trust of newscasts. The analysis brings forward the observations of researchers, scholars and media professionals that offer a vision on the different approaches that integrate the multiple aspects affecting news consumption and interpretation. We conclude that credibility is a concept composed of multidimensional components, resulting from a process where different filters condition fact perception. That is why a story can have different meanings, related to the different point of views of citizens.

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Fundref

This paper is part of the activities of the research project “Public Service Media in the face of the platform ecosystem: public value management and evaluation models relevant for Spain” (grant PID2021-122386OB-I00), funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”.

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Technical information

Received: 09-12-2022

Revised: 27-01-2023

Accepted: 23-02-2023

OnlineFirst: 30-05-2023

Publication date: 01-07-2023

Article revision time: 49 days | Average time revision issue 76: -6 days

Article acceptance time: 76 days | Average time of acceptance issue 76: 72 days

Preprint editing time: 159 days | Average editing time preprint issue 76: 155 days

Article editing time: 204 days | Average editing time issue 76: 200 days

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