Original scientific paper
The Level of Credibility of Traditional and New Media in Reporting on Human Rights Issues
Ivan Tanta
orcid.org/0000-0001-7942-5842
; VERN’ University of Applied Sciences, Trg bana Jelacica 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Barić-Šelmić
; Department of Cultural Studies, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Tomislav Levak
; Department of Cultural Studies, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Attempting to find an answer to the question in the focus of this paper – are new mass media in Croatia more credible
and socially responsible than traditional ones? – the authors explore several key aspects regarding the monitoring and
processing of human rights issues in selected media. In addition to the theoretical foundation, several qualitative and
quantitative research methods have been applied. These are primarily the comparative method and content analysis (of
the texts themselves, but also the type of their graphic equipment) of three most popular daily newspapers (24 sata,
Jutarnji list and Večernji list) and three most popular daily news portals (Index.hr, Net.hr and Tportal.hr) in the period
from 15 February to 15 April 2016. The way in which the selected newspapers and Internet portals reported on issues
related to human rights – with emphasis on the rights of religious, national, racial and other minorities – was compared.
In parallel, between 10 and 20 March 2016, a survey among citizens was conducted by combining face-to-face and online
survey questionnaires. All the above was realized to prove the hypothesis that traditional, especially printed media in
Croatia are still more credible, and the results of this research confirm it. Although readership or following has for years
now been on the side of Internet portals, the newspapers still clearly ensure greater credibility in the Croatian public with
their approach and the way they process a topic, especially when serious topics such as human rights issues are concerned.
Keywords
credibility; traditional media; new media; human rights; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
200344
URI
Publication date:
6.10.2017.
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