Interacting with the Audience through News Comment Sections
摘要
In this chapter, an experimental methodology is used to examine how journalist’ and audience members’ involvement in comment sections on social media can impact the perceived credibility of the journalist, the story, and the news organization for which the journalist works. Results show that the more participants perceived both the journalist and audience members were involved in the comments section the higher they rated the story, the journalist, and the news organization in terms of perceived credibility. The results also point to the detrimental impact trolling comments can have on perceived journalistic credibility, and call attention to the importance of news organizations closely monitoring these spaces.