Nelson, J. L., &amp; Lewis, S. C. (2021). Only “sheep” trust journalists? How citizens’ self-perceptions shape their approach to news. New Media &amp; Society, 146144482110181. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211018160 

Syracuse University

A study conducted by Jacob L Nelson and Seth C Lewis searched to further understand the relationship between audience engagement with news and their trust in it. This relationship was explored by analyzing 60 recorded zoom interviews about U.S. adult’s political beliefs, self-perceptions, and their personal news consumption habits. The analysis considers the two concepts of partisan selective exposure and folk theories together to formulate a better overall understanding of the public’s relationship with news and journalists.

Introduction to study of self-perception’s effect on people’s approach to news

Only "sheep" trust journalists? How citizens' self-perceptions shape their approach to news

An individual’s personal perception of a news source, what they tell themselves about the source based on their perspective.

Folk Theories

Partisan selective exposure is the concept that people seek out news sources that align with their political views and will support or match their already existing interests and attitudes. Partisan Selective Exposure seeks to explain how people's opinions have become so polarized even with the increased amount of information available to the public due to technology.

Partisan Selective Exposure

The results of the interviews found that people, despite political affiliation, consumed the same general media sources (Fox News, CNN, and CBS). However, regardless of whether the sources aligned with their views, a majority of individuals claimed to have low trust in the media and said that they like to fact-check their news personally or with the assistance of a friend or loved one. Through further questioning, interviewers found that the actual fact-checking processes were what were polarizing peoples opinions and leading individuals to draw such drastically different conclusions from the same news outlets. Overall, participants often overestimated their fact-checking abilities and continued to distrust the media regardless of its true quality or reliability.

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