Audience perceptions of government documents as news sources

Abstract

Research into reporting methods of journalists in the United States often focuses on efforts to be more transparent. However, little research examines the role source attribution plays in the audience’s perception of message credibility and information adequacy. Over two experiments, this research tests the role official government and elite sources play in message credibility judgments when compared to other, nongovernment and nonelite sources. Results suggest that messages attributed to elite and government sources are perceived as more credible and higher in information adequacy than other commonly cited sources used in news. Additionally, this research finds that information attributed to social media is perceived as less credible and lower in value. The results have implications for sourcing practices of journalists, suggesting that use of nonelite sources in news might lower people’s perceptions of the information.