The Credibility of Multimedia News: A study on the existence of a relationship between the introduction of new media forms and values of trust in the news

A lot of time and effort is put into studies on trust in the news media. Another important strand of research investigates the implications of the introduction of new media forms. This study links the two fields together and focuses on the development of trust and credibility feelings on the side of the news consumer, who is confronted with a rapidly changing news landscape. Its theoretical framework interrogates such topics as ‘trust’ and ‘credibility’, while at the same time the background and possible effects of new media forms on consumers is portrayed. Empirical insight into these interactions is gained through a dozen of interviews with respondents from a younger (age 16-18) and an older (aged 44-52) population group, consisting of children and their parents. These findings provide a practical insight in the effects of consumption patterns and stereotypical beliefs on the trust in news media. Subsequently, the intergenerational family aspect is an interesting factor. The study proves that both age groups believe technological developments affect the credibility of contemporary news media. However, the consumption patterns do not correspond to these beliefs.