Research Methods: Evaluating Credibility in New and Traditional Media

This report delves into the critical topic of media credibility, contrasting the trustworthiness of new media platforms (online news, social media) with traditional sources (television, newspapers). It poses research questions addressing the credibility of sources for both journalists and the public, the advantages and disadvantages of each media type, and the speed at which news reaches audiences. The report examines the potential for external pressures to compromise the authenticity of news. The research employs a comparative analysis of new and traditional media, evaluating factors that influence public perception and trust. By exploring these questions, the report seeks to offer insights into the evolving media landscape and its impact on information consumption and public understanding, while highlighting the importance of verifying information. The report also discusses the correlation between the research questions to provide an in-depth understanding of the credibility of new and traditional media. The report then reviews the research methods used, citing relevant academic sources.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODS
Research Methods
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Table of Contents
Introduction to the research topic....................................................................................................2
Research questions...........................................................................................................................3
Correlation of the research questions..............................................................................................5
Reviewing the research methods.....................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction to the research topic
Both news media and journalism are built on credibility. The rise of the new media has
given to tough competition for the traditional media in terms of journalism and the people. As
commented by Scott (2015), the majority of the people use the internet in order to surf news and
remain updated. The online news and media platform are considered as the new media whereas
the news telecasted in the television and printed in the newspaper are considered as the
traditional media. The credibility of the new and traditional media highlights the level of trust the
people and journalist can have on them in terms of the news telecasted or printed on them. At
times, the news printed or telecasted on the new and the traditional media fails to provide an
authentic source. The people and the journalists depend largely on the news telecasted. At certain
instances, the people do not even take an initiative in verifying whether the news is credible
enough to consider. However, on the contrary, it can be said that the news printed and telecasted
in the traditional and new media are absolutely credible for the people and the journalists
(Westerman, Spence and Van Der Heide 2014).
Reports suggest that traditional media outlets are still the most trusted once over the new
media for the people and the journalists. As a result, the PR professional use the traditional
media as the key and reach out to the people. The traditional media are still the most trusted ones
because of the impression it has built successfully over the years on the mind of the people. The
fact that the news is printed in the paper before being released for the people and the journalists
are the major reason that it is still trusted. However, on the other hand, in spite of trusting the
traditional media, the population fails to consider the growing importance of the new media
platforms (Carr et al. 2014). The emergence of new media is affecting the newsroom largely, as

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the people are reading the news in apps and on social media. In the case of new media, the news
is telecasted within minutes after the happening. It has also been seen contradictory news are also
telecasted on the new media in minutes apart. This tends to confuse the people and the
journalists, as they are clueless regarding which news to consider correct and incorrect.
However, both traditional and new media print or telecast news that lacks complete credibility
due to external pressure and factors. As a result, some levels of manipulation are there for both
traditional and new media in terms of the news for the people and the journalists.
Research questions
RQ 1 What is the credible sources of new media for journalists and people?
This question will help in understanding the credible sources of the new media for the
journalists and the people. This is because the sources of new media include newspaper apps,
social media and various other internet sources. Thus, determining the most credible sources of
new media is essential, as people believe what they have seen in the new media platform.
RQ 1.1 What is the advantages of using new media for the journalists and people?
This question will help in understanding the potential advantages using the new media for the
people and the journalists. This is because the world is moving at a fast pace and every minute
creates new news that is essential for the people to know in order to remain updated.
RQ 1.2 How fast does news reaches the people and journalist through new media?
This question will help in understanding the ability of the new media to reach out to the
people and the journalists. The effectiveness of the new media will help in determining whether
the news through new media is credible enough for the people to believe or not.

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RQ2 What are the credible sources of traditional media for journalists and people?
This question will help in understanding the credible sources of the traditional media that
the people and journalist can consider. This is because the traditional media used various
platforms such as television, newspaper and radio for reaching out the people. Thus, determining
the most credible traditional media is necessary as the people believe it.
RQ 2.1 What is the advantages of using traditional media for the journalists and media?
This question will help in understanding the benefits of traditional media over new
media. This will also help in understanding the reason traditional media is still existing and still
preferred over new media in spite of being highly demanded.
RQ 2.2 How fast does news reaches the people and journalist through traditional media?
This will help in understanding the effectiveness of the traditional media in reaching out
the people and the journalists in comparison to the new media. This will also help in determining
the reason why traditional media is still preferred though new media has several advantages over
the traditional media.
RQ 3 Is there any credibility of new and traditional media?
This question will help in understanding the extent traditional and new media are credible
for the people and the journalists. Having an understanding regarding the credibility is important
to the people and the journalist believes in what they see thereby, influencing their decisions,
mindset and perspectives largely.
RQ 3.1 To what extent does the news printed and telecasted in the traditional and new media
compromised

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It has been seen that the news in the traditional and the new media are not completely
authentic. This question will help in understanding the credibility and authenticity of both
traditional and new media.
RQ 3.2 Does external pressure hampers the credibility of the news presented through new and
traditional media?
At certain instances, it has been seen that political pressure is one of the reasons due to
which the raw truth is not presented to the people through traditional and new media. This
question will help in determining the impact of external pressures on the credibility of the news
for both traditional and new media.
Correlation of the research questions
In the aforementioned section, tentative questions have been developed that provides an
opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the above scenario. In addition to, each of
the questions was developed in correlation with the other question that allowed to clarify,
rationalize and deny the acts that have been mentioned in the following questions. For example,
RQ 1.1 and RQ 1.2 are developed in correlation with each other and also considering RQ 1. This
helped in understanding the credibility of the new media. Determining the credibility is essential
as the news seen in the new media has a huge impact on the decision and mindset of the people
and the journalists. On the other hand, RQ 2, RQ 2.1 and RQ 2.2 analyze the advantages of the
traditional media thereby, judging the credibility of the news that is presented there. It has been
seen that in spite of the growing benefits of new media, traditional media is still preferred and the
outlets are working successfully. As traditional media is still preferred, judging their credibility
and effectiveness is essential as people rely on the news presented there.

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RQ 3 is developed with the aim of determining the credibility of both the traditional and
new media. This is because in certain instances the raw and bitter truth is not presented to the
people by traditional and new media, as it is predicted to create a massacre. The news is
presented in the new media and the traditional media keeping in the entire population and the
people. Thus, the developed questions help in understanding the extent the news is compromised
due to external pressure thereby, hampering the credibility of the news.
Reviewing the research methods
In this assignment, the research questions have been developed in the pattern that it
provided an opportunity to determine the credibility of the new media and the traditional media
for the people and the journalists. As commented by Hedman and Djerf-Pierre (2013), the media
is one of the biggest platforms that is used for ensuring that the world news reaches the people on
time. The people are aware of the things going on around the world due to the media that is used
for spreading or presenting the news. RQ 1.1 and RQ 1.2 have helped in determining the
underlying reasons that have seen the emergence of new media for presenting the news to the
people and the journalists. However, it has been mentioned before that the emergence of new
media is highly facilitated as the majority of the people are present on online media and get news
instantly through the new media (Takahashi and Tandoc Jr 2016). On the other hand, it has also
been seen that in spite of the growing demand of the new media, the traditional media is still
preferred by the people and the journalists. According to Spence et al. (2013), the use of
traditional media is still preferred and its credibility is hardly judged because of the trust it has
been able to build and maintain over the years by providing authentic news to the people.

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References
Carr, D.J., Barnidge, M., Lee, B.G. and Tsang, S.J., 2014. Cynics and skeptics: Evaluating the
credibility of mainstream and citizen journalism. Journalism & Mass Communication
Quarterly, 91(3), pp.452-470.
Hedman, U. and Djerf-Pierre, M., 2013. The social journalist: Embracing the social media life or
creating a new digital divide?. Digital Journalism, 1(3), pp.368-385.
Scott, D.M., 2015. The new rules of marketing and PR: How to use social media, online video,
mobile applications, blogs, news releases, and viral marketing to reach buyers directly. John
Wiley & Sons.
Spence, P.R., Lachlan, K.A., Westerman, D. and Spates, S.A., 2013. Where the gates matter less:
Ethnicity and perceived source credibility in social media health messages. Howard Journal of
Communications, 24(1), pp.1-16.
Takahashi, B. and Tandoc Jr, E.C., 2016. Media sources, credibility, and perceptions of science:
Learning about how people learn about science. Public Understanding of Science, 25(6), pp.674-
690.
Westerman, D., Spence, P.R. and Van Der Heide, B., 2014. Social media as information source:
Recency of updates and credibility of information. Journal of Computer
‐Mediated
Communication, 19(2), pp.171-183.