Information seeking behavior of campus journalists in a developing country: An empirical study

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to investigate the information needs and seeking behavior of campus journalists from different universities in Bangladesh. Data were collected from the participants using a convenience sampling technique. A total of 244 campus journalists participated in this survey. The study found that campus journalists primarily sought information to write news, covering university prosperity, hall or residence-related issues, the university's political issues, and cultural activities. They used a variety of media tools to enhance their reporting and cross-checked facts to ensure the authenticity of the news they received. The results also showed that the campus journalists mainly collected news by visiting the place physically and listening to witnesses’ stories. Lack of training, lack of authority's cooperation, and insufficient time were found as significant barriers to seeking information. Furthermore, the study found significant differences in the motivations for seeking information among journalists from different age groups and levels of experience.