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.

References

Appelman, A., & Sundar, S.S. (2016). Measuring message credibility. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 93(1), 59-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077699015606057

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Arlt, D. (2019). Who trusts the news media? Exploring the factors shaping trust in the news media in German-speaking Switzerland. Studies in Communication Sciences, 18(2), 231-245. https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2018.02.003

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Biltereyst, D. (2004). Public service broadcasting, Popular entertainment and the construction of trust. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 7(3), 341-362. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549404044787

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Callejo-Gallego, J. (2015). El contrato de confianza con la información televisiva. Estudios Sobre El Mensaje Periodístico, 21(2), 969-986. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_ESMP.2015.v21.n2.50896

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Calvo-Porral, C., Martínez-Fernández, V.A., & Juanatey-Boga, Ó. (2014). Credibilidad de los medios de comunicación: análisis de la prensa diaria desde el comportamiento del consumidor. Profesional de la Informacion, 23(3), 300-310. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2014.may.10

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Camacho-Ordóñez, R. (2005). Quality television: Distinctiveness and audience. [Televisión de calidad: Distinción y audiencia]. Comunicar, 25, 29-32. https://doi.org/10.3916/C25-2005-004

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Campos-Rueda, M., & Goyanes, M. (2022). Public service media for better democracies: Testing the role of perceptual and structural variables in shaping citizens’ evaluations of public television. Journalism.. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849221114948

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Daniller, A., Allen, D., Tallevi, A., & Mutz, D.C. (2017). Measuring trust in the press in a changing media environment. Communication Methods and Measures, 11(1), 76-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2016.1271113

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Edelman (Ed.) (2022). Edelman Trust Barometer 2022. https://bit.ly/3YVlK2m

Link Google Scholar

Edgerly, S. (2022). The head and heart of news avoidance: How attitudes about the news media relate to levels of news consumption. Journalism, 23(9), 1828-1845. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211012922

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Engelke, K.M., Hase, V., & Wintterlin, F. (2019). On measuring trust and distrust in journalism: Reflection of the status quo and suggestions for the road ahead. Journal of Trust Research, 9(1), 66-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/21515581.2019.1588741

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Garusi, D., & Splendore, S. (2023). Advancing a qualitative turn in news media trust research. Sociology Compass. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.13075

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Gaziano, C., & McGrath, K. (1986). Measuring the concept of credibility. Journalism Quarterly, 63(3), 451-462. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769908606300301

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Goyanes, M. (2020). Antecedents of Incidental news exposure: the role of media preference, use and trust. Journalism Practice, 14(6), 714-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2019.1631710

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hameleers, M., & Brosius, A. (2022). You are wrong because I am right! The perceived causes and ideological biases of misinformation beliefs. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edab028

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hanitzsch, T., Van-Dalen, A., & Steindl, N. (2018). Caught in the Nexus: A Comparative and Longitudinal Analysis of Public Trust in the Press. International Journal of Press/Politics, 23(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940161217740695

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Holtz-Bacha, C. (2021). The kiss of death. Public service media under right-wing populist attack. European Journal of Communication, 36(3), 221-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323121991334

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hovland, C.I., Janis, I.L., & Kelley, H.H. (1953). Communication and persuasion: Psychological studies of opinion change. Yale University Press.

Link Google Scholar

Jakobsson, P., & Stiernstedt, F. (2023). Trust and the Media: Arguments for the (Irr)elevance of a Concept. Journalism Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2169191

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Krueger, R.A., & Casey, M.A. (2014). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. Sage publications. https://bit.ly/3F8NbOd

Link Google Scholar

Lee, T.T. (2010). Why they don’t trust the media: An examination of factors predicting trust. American Behavioral Scientist, 54(1), 8–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764210376308

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Lunt, P., & Livingstone, S. (1996). Rethinking the focus group in media and communications research. Journal of Communication, 46(2), 79-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1996.tb01475.x

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Masip, P., Suau, J., & Ruiz-Caballero, C. (2020). Percepciones sobre medios de comunicación y desinformación: Ideología y polarización en el sistema mediático español. Profesional de la Información, 29(5). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.sep.27

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Mateos, C. (2021). Percepción ciudadana del desorden informativo: Servicio público de televisión y ecosistema mediático. OBETS, 16(2), 417-434. https://doi.org/10.14198/OBETS2021.16.2.12

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Mateos-Martín, C., Lamuedra-Graván, M., & Broullón-Lozano, M.A. (2021). From ‘Content Providers’ to ‘Key Social Structures’: A Turn to practice in citizen’s discourses on Televisión Española (TVE). Zer, 26(51), 55-78. https://doi.org/10.1387/zer.23009

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Medina, M., Etayo-Pérez, C., & Serrano-Puche, J. (2023). Categorías de confianza para los informativos televisivos e indicadores para su medición: Percepciones de grupos de interés en Alemania, España e Italia. Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación, 12(1), 307-324. https://doi.org/10.14198/MEDCOM.23416

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Miller, A., & Kurpius, D. (2010). A citizen-eye view of television news source credibility. American Behavioral Scientist, 54(2), 137-156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764210376315

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Moran, R.E., & Nechustai, E. (2022). Before reception: Trust in the news as infrastructure. Journalism, 24(3).https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211048961

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Newman, N., Fletcher, R., Robertson, C.T., Eddy, K., & Kleis-Nielsen, R. (2022). Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2022. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://bit.ly/3ZrcDqB

Link Google Scholar

Parlamento Europeo (Ed.) (2022). Flash Eurobarometer. News & Media Survey 2022. European Parliament. https://bit.ly/41D6gBG

Link Google Scholar

Picone, I., & Donders, K. (2020). Reach or trust optimisation? A citizen trust analysis in the flemish public broadcaster VRT. Media and Communication, 8(3), 348-358. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i3.3172

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Roses, S., & Farias-Battle, P. (2012). Credibilidad de los medios: un análisis bivariado de las opiniones de los españoles. Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación, 3(1), 79-104. https://doi.org/10.14198/MEDCOM2012.3.06

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Samuel-Azran, T., & Hayat, T. (2019). Online news recommendations credibility: The tie is mightier than the source. [La credibilidad de las noticias digitales: El vínculo es más impactante que la fuente]. Comunicar, 60, 71-80. https://doi.org/10.3916/C60-2019-07

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Strömbäck, J., Tsfati, Y., Boomgaarden, H., Damstra, A., Lindgren, E., Vliegenthart, R., & Lindholm, T. (2020). News media trust and its impact on media use: Toward a framework for future research. Annals of the International Communication Association, 44(2), 139-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2020.1755338

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Suárez-Villegas, J.C., Rodríguez-Martínez, R., & Ramon-Vegas, X. (2020). Pluralismo informativo en la era de la deliberación digital: percepciones de periodistas y ciudadanos. Profesional de la Información, 29(5), e290525. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.sep.25

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Suiter, J., & Fletcher, R. (2020). Polarization and partisanship: Key drivers of distrust in media old and new? European Journal of Communication, 35(5), 484-501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323120903685

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Thorson, K., Vraga, E., & Ekdale, B. (2010). Credibility in context: How uncivil online commentary affects news credibility. Mass Communication and Society, 13(3), 289-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205430903225571

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Vanacker, B., & Belmas, G. (2009). Trust and the economics of news. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 24(2-3), 110-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/08900520902885277

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

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”.

Crossmark

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

Metrics

Metrics of this article

Views: 57859

Abstract readings: 56730

PDF downloads: 1129

Full metrics of Comunicar 76

Views: 478106

Abstract readings: 466700

PDF downloads: 11406

Cited by