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 Figuresvii
Abstractviii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1Introduction 1
1.2Background to the Study 3
1.2.1History of Orange 94.5 FM 4-5
1.3Statement of the Problem 5
1.4Research Questions 5
1.5Objectives of the Study 5-6
1.6Significance of the Study 7
1.7Scope of the Study 7
1.8Limitations to the Study 7
1.9Operational Definition of Terms 7-8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1Preamble 9
2.2Conceptual Review 9
2.2.1Internet9
2.2.1.1Elements of Internet 10-12
2.2.1.2Usage of the Internet 12-13
2.2.1.3Misinformation on the Internet 13-14
2.2.1.4Importance of the Internet as a News Source14
2.2.1.5Challenges of Internet 14-15
2.2.1.6Internet Credibility 15-16
2.2.1.7The Internet as Global News Medium17
2.2.1.8Use of the Internet for News Retrieval 17-18
2.2.2News 18-19
2.2.2.1News Elements 19-20
2.2.2.2News Sources 20-21
2.2.2.3Credibility 21-22
2.2.2.4Credibility of online news stories 22-23
2.2.2.5Source Content23
2.2.2.6Source Credibility 23-25
2.3 Empirical Review 25-27
2.4Theoretical Framework 27-30
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1Method 31
3.2 Research Design 31-32
3.2.1 Study Population 32
3.2.2 Sample Size & Sampling Techniques 32-33
3.2.3Instruments of Data Collection 35
3.2.4Method of Data Collection 35
3.2.5Method of Data Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation 36
3.2.6Units of Analysis36
3.2.7Categories of Analysis 36-37
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1Overview of Methodology 38
4.2Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation 38
4.2.1Presentation of Content Analysis Data 38
4.2.2Research Question One39
4.2.3Research Question Two40
4.3 Presentation of Qualitative Data 42-45
4.3.1Research Question Three46
4.3.2Research Question Four 46-47
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1Summary 48
5.2Conclusion 49
5.3Recommendations 50
5.4Suggestions 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
