Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22522/cmr20210162
Media Habits, Public Trust and Fake News during the Coronavirus Period
Petra Begović
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Danijel Labaš
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Analysed in this paper are the habits of media use, especially digital ones, the credibility of their content in the eyes of the public and opinions on fake news during the crisis period, also known as the "coronavirus pandemic", while the World Health Organisation warned about the fact that it was also an infodemic. This term confirmed the importance of the role of the media, which could contribute to the calming of the crisis or could transmit disinformation, fake news and news related to conspiracy theories, precisely during a period when the public needed them most. This research, aimed at examining the role of the media as an important source of information during the coronavirus pandemic, was conducted using the online survey method from 27 April to 15 May 2020. The results of the research showed that the media are an important source of information in which respondents have confidence, and the information provided has helped them to understand the crisis and guided them towards appropriate behaviour in the crisis situation.
Keywords
media, media habits, credibility, fake news, coronavirus, communication in crisis
Hrčak ID:
261003
URI
Publication date:
27.7.2021.
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