ONLINE NEWS CHANNELS SELECTION-

WUKARI INTERNATIONAL STUDIES JOURNAL, VOL 7 (4), 2023 , 2023

This study explores the influence of social media on news consumption patterns among undergraduates at Kwara State University, Malete, and the University of Ilorin. Employing a descriptive survey methodology, the study addressed issues regarding the extent of social media usage for news consumption, motivations for using social media for news, and factors influencing news consumption through these platforms. Existing studies have focused mainly on social media usage and its impact on political participation, socialization, and academic performance. Consequently, a gap is observed in the existing literature concerning the magnitude of social media utilization and its impact on the news consumption patterns of undergraduates in Ilorin. This research is framed within the foundational principles of the Uses and Gratifications Theory. The results elucidate the noteworthy influence of social media on the news consumption behaviors of undergraduates in the designated universities. WhatsApp and Instagram emerged as the most frequently used platforms for news consumption. Motives for using social media for news ranged from seeking relevant information to social interaction and staying updated on news. Students displayed a considerable dedication of time, with over half of respondents spending five hours or more on social media for news consumption. Factors influencing news consumption on social media encompassed digital literacy, demographics, and news credibility. This study underscores the need for media literacy programmes within educational institutions to empower students to critically evaluate news content on social media. It also suggests the importance of raising awareness about responsible social media usage. Diversification of news sources and promotion of credible news outlets can contribute to a well-rounded news consumption experience for students.

Empirical studies have explored the relationship between news gratifications sought and news gratifications obtained in the online media and in the conventional media. Previous studies have rarely compared between the extent to which news gratifications sought are obtanied in the conventional media and the extent to which the news gratifications are sought and obtained in the online media. Through a qualitative approach, this study employs a uses and gratifications approach to compare how news gratifications are sought and obtained in both the online and conventional media. Indepth interviews were conducted with 14 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria between January and April, 2014. Qualitative analysis was done on Nvivo 10 software for a thorough and transparent analysis. Investigation reveals why news gratifications are less sought but more obtained in the conventional media and why news gratifications are more sought but less obtained in the online media.

Indian Journal of Information Sources and Services, 2018

This study investigated the pattern of news consumption on the internet and the influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating condition on use among undergraduate students in public universities in Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. Respondents were selected from four faculties in two public universities in Lagos State, Nigeria. Findings revealed that mobile phone was the most popular device used, entertainment news was the most popular type of news consumed, while Facebook was the most popular platform used for news consumption. Poor quality of internet connection and high data cost were challenges to news consumption. Generally, all the four UTAUT constructs were found to positively influence the student’s intention and actual use of the internet for news consumption. Government and internet service providers should work together to improve the coverage and quality of internet connection, providing ...

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

The study was conducted to comparatively analyze the patronage of social and conventional media among students; a case study of University of Maiduguri. The study is significant because it helped in unveiling the paradigm shift in respect of social and conventional media patronage. The objectives of the study are to examine the level of patronage of conventional and social media by students of University of Maiduguri, to find out the reasons for the preference of either social or conventional media by University of Maiduguri students, to determine the reliance of the students on either social media or conventional media. Uses and gratification theory was adopted as philosophical guide. Survey was the research method used, with questionnaire as instrument that was purposively distributed among 200 respondents. The survey established that patronage of media (either social or conventional) among students is absolutely positive. Simply put, every student patronizes either social or conventional media. Social media has higher level of patronage compared to the conventional media among the students and their patronage. There is high commitment of the students to the type of media they patronize. According to this finding, the higher number obtained from patronage of social media influence level of commitment in this finding. This further means that degree of patronage of social media is higher than conventional media. The amount of time audience allocates to the patronage of media either social or conventional is huge. This finding is also influenced by the first finding regarding the number of those that patronize conventional and social media. This means the amount of time spent on social media is higher than the conventional media by the students. There is exorbitant preference to the social media than conventional media. There is still significant number of audience who prefer the conventional media to social media. Audiences prefer conventional media because of accuracy and reliability of information. Professionalism and standard in ethics, spelling and grammar are also influential reason on their preference of conventional media. Audiences prefer social media for instant messages and updates found on the platforms. However, interactivity and participatory nature play significant role on their preference of social media. Each of the media influence its audience based peculiar characteristic and features which pilot the level of patronage. Because some like more interactivity and participation, the social media is waxing strong in this respect while the conventional media keep soaring higher among those who prefer reliable and accurate information that been professionally verified. Most of the audiences rely on information they receive from the social media even though significant number (39.5%) still doubt the reliability of such information. Almost all audiences rely on conventional media. The number (6%) of those who do not rely on such information is less or no significance. The degrees of reliance vary across the audience.

This study investigates the uses and gratifications obtained from reading news online in News Media and Social Media. A comparison is done between these two (News Media and Social Media) related to what type of needs does each of these media fulfil. It also examines the trust and interactivity that participants illustrate in reading news online. A questionnaire was distributed and quantitative analysis was conducted in order to examine the above. A sample of 156 university students completed the questionnaire. A factor analysis on uses and gratifications obtained from News Media and Social Media revealed four factors i.e. Information, Discussion, Entertainment and Surveillance. Results also revealed that (a) Social Media is more about Entertainment whereas News Media is more about Surveillance. No statistical significant differences were obtained related to the gratification of Information and Discussion between the media (b) the intensity of reading online news in News Media depends mainly on how well informed the users would like to be (c) the intensity of reading news in Social Media depends mainly on the age of the user (d) the users trust more News Media rather than Social Media concerning the news they read online.

Global Mass Communication Review, 2021

This study examined the priority of a young generation regarding the selection of medium for news consumption of Multan city. The rationale of the research was to explore the authority of Social Networking Medium (SNM) and explored the comparison between both genders about the consumption of media for repeated information seeking. Moreover, a survey questionnaire methodology used to explore the priorities of the youth and the sample size was five hundred in total using the purposive sampling technique. The study gave a clear hint that the use of Social Networking Medium (SNM) for news acquiring was 56 percent which is greater than the traditional media (print media), which was 44 percent. The study also pinned the point that the youth is consuming the newspaper for relevant information more than Facebook. Overall findings of the study illustrated that Social Network Medium (SNM) is the foremost source of news and information among the youth of Multan.

This exploratory study investigates social network sites (SNS) users' time allocation behavior among various traditional and new media. Specifically, it examines the difference in degree of dependency on SNS between the young generation and the general population as a new form of news medium based on the media system dependency (MSD) and the microeconomic consumption (MEC) theories. The research results reveal that SNS, along with other online media, such as online audio/video news, are the preferred news sources for young people and they are more likely to be interested in soft news than hard news. SNS has become online users' news portal and is closely related to their other online and user-generated content media use. The significant difference in news media use between the general population and college students also illustrates the importance of choosing the sample in studying SNS and media use.

International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 2013

This study investigates the uses and gratification of the Internet among students in the Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka. The study became necessary following the influx of and increase in the use of the Internet in education, which portends functional as well as dysfunctional roles on students if not properly handled. Hence, the need to empirically evaluate uses and gratification of the Internet by students. Findings show that students in the Department of Mass Communication, DELSU Abraka, are heavy users of the Internet despite their low level of technological knowledge in the use of the Internet. Also, it was found that the students use the Internet to send e-mails, gather information for educational purposes and to chat despite being occasionally hampered by network failure. Therefore, the study concludes that students are not affected by dysfunctional roles of the Internet. Hence, the programme curriculum of the Department of Mass Communi...

2019

Media Ecosystem is shifting vehemently across the globe, and the internet is the primary changing agent. The prime objective of this study is to know the relevance of Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) assumption in online news media consumption. However, online news media and newspaper consumption is very recent phenomenon in Malaysia and Pakistan. This theory has been used in conventional media consumption in different parts of the world. This paper reviewed the past research studies related to online news consumption and highlighted status of online newspapers and news consumption in both Asian countries. Findings of the study affirmed that active audience is related to online news consumption. Hence, theoretically this study contributed to the literature of uses and gratification theory in the field of online news media consumption.