Alternative approaches to news: the role of media distrust, perceived network homophily, and interests in news topics

Francisco Segado-Boj; Elias Said-Hung

doi:10.26441/RC20.2-2021-A19

Authors

Francisco Segado-Boj Universidad Complutense de Madrid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7750-3755
Elias Said-Hung Universidad Internacional de La Rioja https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0594-5906

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26441/RC20.2-2021-A19

Keywords:

news users, hard news, soft news, media distrust, perceived network homophily

Abstract

This study focuses on three contemporary alternative users' attitudes to news previously detetected in the literature: 'News finds me', 'The information is out there' and 'I don't know what to believe. It analyzes the role of users' media distrust and social network homophily perception as predictors of each considered attitude. Secondly, the study also considers the effect of the mentioned attitude on user's interests in different news topics. Last, it compares the reciprocal influence of the aforementioned attitudes among them. A survey (n = 279) was developed among Spanish Facebook users. Data was analysed through multiple regression test. Results show that media distrust positively predicted “The Information Is Out There” but was not relevant in the cases of “News Finds Me” and “I Don’t Know What To Believe”. “News Finds Me” negatively predicted interest in hard news (domestic, international politics, and economy), and “The Information Is Out There” predicted interest in lifestyle news and stories about celebrities. Perceived network homophily was not predicted by any of the observed attitudes. A reciprocal influence was detected between “The Information Is Out There” and “News Finds Me” but no influence was identified from or to “I Don’t Know What To Believe”. We conclude that “The Information Is Out There” may have the same negative effects on political knowledge and participation that “News Finds Me” as it drives users away from hard news item and towards softer topics.

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Author Biographies

Francisco Segado-Boj, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

PhD on Journalism granted by Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). He is currently an assistant professor at the Journalism and Global Communication Department in Universidad Complutense de Madrid. His research focuses on digital journalism, social media and scholarly communication.

Elias Said-Hung, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja

Ph.D. in Communication Sciences by Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). He is currently tenured lecturer at the Faculty of Education, member of the PROCOMM research group and Director of the University Master's Degree in Inclusive and Intercultural Education at the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja.

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