This study investigates the Sourced Credibility of Internet Based News Stories on Orange FM, Akure. These sources include mainstream (vanguardnewspaper.com, BBC.com, Punchnewspaper.com, NAN.com etc), independent (thedrudgereport.com, axisoflogic.com), and index-type (news.google.com, yahoo.news.com) websites. 210 news bulletins were studied. Content Analysis and Survey Research Methods were utilized in order to know how prominent the source is to the station and how frequent the internet stories are been used. Also interviews with selected journalists (from Orange 94.5 FM, Akure) were conducted in order to deduce how the internet-based stories affect their works. Coding sheet and a 7-item interview guide were utilized as measuring instruments. Findings show that, internet-based news differs based on credibility, users’ perceptions and technological affordances of the media. The researcher concluded that, in Orange 94.5 FM Akure, news stories are not just extracted on any sites, rather; there are some traditional news organization that had been tested and trusted which stories are extracted from. Therefore, the researcher recommended that, the dependency level of Orange FM journalists for internet sourced news stories should be balanced with more live reportage to avoid losing audience; as many of them have access to the internet through their phones and might have read such stories online. Also, Orange FM should properly liaise with the reputable news organizations which they extract news items from, in other to verify news stories before they are been used in their news bulletins.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page
Affirmation ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables vi
List of Figures vii
Abstract viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Background to the Study 3
1.2.1 History of Orange 94.5 FM 4-5
1.3 Statement of the Problem 5
1.4 Research Questions 5
1.5 Objectives of the Study 5-6
1.6 Significance of the Study 7
1.7 Scope of the Study 7
1.8 Limitations to the Study 7
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms 7-8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Preamble 9
2.2 Conceptual Review 9
2.2.1 Internet 9
2.2.1.1 Elements of Internet 10-12
2.2.1.2 Usage of the Internet 12-13
2.2.1.3 Misinformation on the Internet 13-14
2.2.1.4 Importance of the Internet as a News Source 14
2.2.1.5 Challenges of Internet 14-15
2.2.1.6 Internet Credibility 15-16
2.2.1.7 The Internet as Global News Medium 17
2.2.1.8 Use of the Internet for News Retrieval 17-18
2.2.2 News 18-19
2.2.2.1 News Elements 19-20
2.2.2.2 News Sources 20-21
2.2.2.3 Credibility 21-22
2.2.2.4 Credibility of online news stories 22-23
2.2.2.5 Source Content 23
2.2.2.6 Source Credibility 23-25
2.3 Empirical Review 25-27
2.4 Theoretical Framework 27-30
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Method 31
3.2 Research Design 31-32
3.2.1 Study Population 32
3.2.2 Sample Size & Sampling Techniques 32-33
3.2.3 Instruments of Data Collection 35
3.2.4 Method of Data Collection 35
3.2.5 Method of Data Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation 36
3.2.6 Units of Analysis 36
3.2.7 Categories of Analysis 36-37
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Overview of Methodology 38
4.2 Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation 38
4.2.1 Presentation of Content Analysis Data 38
4.2.2 Research Question One 39
4.2.3 Research Question Two 40
4.3 Presentation of Qualitative Data 42-45
4.3.1 Research Question Three 46
4.3.2 Research Question Four 46-47
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 48
5.2 Conclusion 49
5.3 Recommendations 50
5.4 Suggestions for Further Study 50
References 51-52
Appendices
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Table for Determining Sample Size from a Given Population 34
Table 2: Showing the Distribution of Orange FM News Bulletins Selected for Analysis 35
Table 3: Showing the frequency of coverage according to news source 39
Table 4: Showing the frequency of coverage according to prominence of time allocation 40
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: A bar chart showing the frequency of coverage according to news source 39
Figure 2: A bar chart showing the frequency of coverage according to prominence of time 41
