IMPACT OF FAKE NEWS ON THE CREDIBILITY OF NATIONAL HINDI NEWS CHANNELS: A STUDY OF VIEWER PERCEPTIONS IN UTTARAKHAND

Pawan Lalchand Kumar; Ashish Kulshreshtha

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.2273

Authors

Pawan Lalchand Kumar Research Scholar, SGRRU, Dehradun, Uttarakhand (Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun), India
Dr. Ashish Kulshreshtha HoD, Mass Communication Department, SGRRU, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.2273

Keywords:

Fake News, Media Credibility, Hindi News Channels, Viewer Perception, Media Literacy

Abstract [English]

This study investigates the impact of fake news on the credibility of national Hindi news channels, focusing on viewer perceptions in Uttarakhand. As misinformation proliferates across media platforms, understanding its effects on audience trust and news consumption habits is crucial for maintaining an informed citizenry and a healthy media ecosystem.The research uses a survey methodology to examine viewers' news consumption patterns, awareness and perception of fake news and the subsequent impact on channel credibility. Questions explore viewing frequency, preferred channels and perceived exposure to misinformation. The study assesses viewers' confidence in identifying fake news and investigates which news categories are most susceptible to false information.Central to this investigation is how fake news affects trust in Hindi news channels. The survey measures changes in viewer trust levels and explores factors influencing news credibility judgments. It also examines whether fake news concerns have led viewers to abandon specific channels, providing insight into potential economic impacts on news organizations.The study also explores viewers' perspectives on combating fake news, assessing the perceived importance of verifying news across multiple sources, interest in media literacy programs, and attitudes towards stricter regulations for news channels. By analyzing these aspects, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fake news phenomenon in Hindi-language television news. The findings will offer valuable insights for news organizations, policymakers, and media literacy advocates, potentially informing strategies to enhance news credibility, combat misinformation, and restore viewer trust in an era of information overload and increasing media scepticism.

References

BARC India. (2023). What India Watches 2023. Broadcast Audience Research Council India.

Census of India. (2011). Uttarakhand Population 2011-2023. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.

Chakrabarti, S., Stengel, L., & Solanki, S. (2018). Duty, Identity, Credibility: Fake News and the Ordinary Citizen in India. BBC News.

FICCI-EY. (2023). Tuning into consumer: Indian M&E rebounds with a customer-centric approach. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

Kohring, M., & Matthes, J. (2007). Trust in News Media: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Scale. Communication Research, 34(2), 231-252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650206298071

Lazer, D. M. J., Baum, M. A., Benkler, Y., Berinsky, A. J., Greenhill, K. M., Menczer, F., Metzger, M. J., Nyhan, B., Pennycook, G., Rothschild, D., Schudson, M., Sloman, S. A., Sunstein, C. R., Thorson, E. A., Watts, D. J., & Zittrain, J. L. (2018). The science of fake news. Science, 359(6380), 1094-1096.

Microsoft. (2019). Microsoft's Annual Digital Civility Index. Microsoft.

Neyazi, T. A., Kalogeropoulos, A., & Nielsen, R. K. (2016). Misinformation Concerns and Online News Participation among Internet Users in India. Social Media + Society, 2(3).

Pennycook, G., Cannon, T. D., & Rand, D. G. (2018). Prior exposure increases perceived accuracy of fake news. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 147(12), 1865-1880. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000465

Van der Linden, S., Panagopoulos, C., & Roozenbeek, J. (2020). You are fake news: Political bias in perceptions of fake news. Media, Culture & Society, 42(3), 460-470. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720906992

Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 211-236. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211

Tandoc, E. C., Lim, Z. W., & Ling, R. (2018). Defining fake news: A typology of scholarly definitions. Digital Journalism, 6(2), 137-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2017.1360143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2017.1360143

Lazer, D. M., Baum, M. A., Grinberg, N., Friedland, L., Joseph, K., & Hobbs, W. (2018). The science of fake news. Science, 359(6380), 1094-1096. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao2998 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao2998

Rao, S. (2021). Media literacy in rural India: Bridging the gap between media consumption and critical thinking. Journal of Communication, 19(1), 78-95.

Gupta, A. (2018). TRP wars: Television news channels and the race for ratings. Media Watch Journal, 9(3), 435-449.

Thakurta, P. G. (2012). Media ethics: Truth, fairness, and objectivity. Oxford University Press.

Bharali, G., & Goswami, S. (2021). Media ownership and bias in news reporting: A study of Indian news channels. Journal of Media Studies, 13(2), 34-47.

Wardle, C., & Derakhshan, H. (2017). Information disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making. Council of Europe Report.

Fletcher, R., & Nielsen, R. K. (2018). Are people incidentally exposed to news on social media? A comparative analysis. Journal of Communication, 68(1), 117-136. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqx009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqx009

Bennett, W. L., & Livingston, S. (2018). The disinformation order: Disruptive communication and the decline of democratic institutions. European Journal of Communication, 33(2), 122-139. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323118760317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323118760317