Using and Believing—Exploring Public Trust in Online News Sources in China

Bibliographic Data

ID12909241
AuthorsYi Xu (0000-0002-9555-6145, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Deru Zhou (University of Southern California), Wei Wang (0000-0001-5806-2368, Zhejiang University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume20
Issue2
Pages475-493
Publication date2024-06-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-2786 • E-ISSN: 1751-2794
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17512786.2024.2361370
OpenAlexW4399515392
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited50

This research investigated online news consumption and public trust in online news sources in China. It aims to understand the dynamic relationship between media use and media trust in China, with a contrast between official media and social media. In this study, we measured the frequency of use and credibility of 50 online news sources categorized into five groups and two social media platforms, WeChat/Weibo, with a survey (N = 585). The results indicated people used and trusted each online news source group differently. Social media were used most often and the reliance on official media was less. Habitual use of social media enhanced its credibility; however, official media were trusted the most, followed by news portals. This study advances the literature by identifying the online news consumption pattern in China and examining the public trust in online news sources where the government's control of media extends online. This study reveals how the public perceives the legitimacy of the state via official information systems and how technologically-driven media transformations have produced vibrations among the public. The findings also provide important implications for practitioners to understand the trust structure of online news media and conduct targeted regulation

Advertising · Business · China · Credibility · Digital media · Government (linguistics · Internet privacy · Legitimacy · Media relations · News media · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Public relations · Public trust · Social media · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics

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