The Impact of Online Feedbacks on the Credibility of News Stories (A Study of Saharareporters.Com)

Abstract

The new media have revolutionized human communication. The traditional means of gathering, processing and disseminating news has been greatly altered. Consequently, the news audience is now sophisticated and highly dynamic. With the new media, the audience members are now equal partners in news business. Though a welcome development, it has raised credibility question. This study, therefore, investigates how online feedbacks affect the credibility of online stories published by saharareproter.com. Using qualitative content analysis and focus group discussion, findings revealed that majority of online feedbacks in the audience platform of saharareporters.com raised the issue of credibility. In most cases, the audience questioned the accuracy of some news stories. It was also found that most of the feedbacks analyzed had ethnic, religious and political connotations. It was therefore, recommended that the managers of saharareporters.com should verify some stories sent in by citizen journalist before they are uploaded.

Keywords: Fifth Estate ● saharareporter.com● Citizen journalism ● Free press● Online news credibility