Presence of Online Reader Comments Lowers News Site Credibility

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2016

Department

Mass Communication and Journalism

School

Communication

Abstract

The authors raise questions about the effects of reader comments on online news credibility, and among their findings is that the same feature—readers’ comments—that makes online news more appealing also decreases the credibility of the news outlet. The commenting system and the way comments are moderated do not appear to affect a news outlet’s credibility.

Publication Title

Newspaper Research Journal

Volume

37

Issue

4

First Page

365

Last Page

376

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