Searching, selecting, and verifying

Author(s)
Yael de Haan, Sanne Kruikemeier, Sophie Lecheler
Abstract

This study utilises a quantitative observation study on student journalists (n=47), as well as reconstruction interviews with experienced editors and reporters in newsrooms (n=12), to understand how Dutch journalists search, select, and verify sources online. Through the recording of screen activity, we show that search strategies are heavily influenced by how the search engine sorts and ranks potential sources. Eventual selection of sources remains relatively traditional, focused on legacy media and their websites. Moreover, online news production clearly challenges the verif ication process. Results suggest that journalists use no explicit but only so-called hybrid methods of verif ications, such as background checks of websites and social media accounts, and cross-checking of sources.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
External organisation(s)
HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Journal
Tijdschrift voor Communicatiewetenschap
Volume
52
Pages
150-176
No. of pages
27
ISSN
1384-6930
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5117/TCW2024.X.001.HAAN
Publication date
02-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Communication
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/ff3dc557-0e1e-4698-951c-189c9ca60604