Do we trust the news? A cognitive-semiotic exploration of how people engage with news and media in South Africa
Author
Summary, in English
In an era of widespread disinformation, understanding how individuals navigate diverse media is critical. To address this, this thesis investigates how South Africans engage with news across different media formats, focusing on the role of semiotic systems, sensory modalities, and trust in shaping news engagement behaviours. The study poses four research questions: 1) What kind of media do South Africans engage with for their news? 2) What kind of news media do South Africans trust and why? 3) What is it that motivates South Africans to engage with the news? 4) Does age affect any of the above? Using phenomenological triangulation, and drawing on concepts and methods from cognitive semiotics and phenomenology, the study combines personal reflection, photovoice and interviews, and a survey to provide a rich, multi-dimensional view of news engagement.
Findings from the survey showed that the internet was used more frequently than TV and YouTube, with digital media perceived as accessible yet overwhelming. Most participants preferred the "written with pictures" format, as they perceived images as both emotive and credible, while they valued audio formats for convenience. Participants engaged with and trusted informative reporting more than other reporting styles. Participants favoured social media and radio for their interactivity and synchronicity, as opposed to newspapers. The interviews revealed that trust in the news was linked to source reputation and professionalism, and participants managed their mistrust by cross-referencing multiple sources due to concerns about manipulation and hidden agendas. Emotional strain from the overwhelming negativity of the news led to selective engagement strategies, as participants reported balancing staying informed and impacts on their mental health. Despite these challenges, participants valued news engagement for the sense of connection it provided and its relevance to their lives. Contrary to existing research, this study found minimal age-related differences in news engagement, possibly due to differences in sampling and environment. In sum, the thesis revealed the complexities of trust, emotional strain, and social connection in navigating modern media, offering new perspectives on how individuals cope with an evolving news landscape. Ultimately, this research highlights the personal and collective importance of news engagement, reflecting a deep human need for connection, even in a climate of growing mistrust.
Findings from the survey showed that the internet was used more frequently than TV and YouTube, with digital media perceived as accessible yet overwhelming. Most participants preferred the "written with pictures" format, as they perceived images as both emotive and credible, while they valued audio formats for convenience. Participants engaged with and trusted informative reporting more than other reporting styles. Participants favoured social media and radio for their interactivity and synchronicity, as opposed to newspapers. The interviews revealed that trust in the news was linked to source reputation and professionalism, and participants managed their mistrust by cross-referencing multiple sources due to concerns about manipulation and hidden agendas. Emotional strain from the overwhelming negativity of the news led to selective engagement strategies, as participants reported balancing staying informed and impacts on their mental health. Despite these challenges, participants valued news engagement for the sense of connection it provided and its relevance to their lives. Contrary to existing research, this study found minimal age-related differences in news engagement, possibly due to differences in sampling and environment. In sum, the thesis revealed the complexities of trust, emotional strain, and social connection in navigating modern media, offering new perspectives on how individuals cope with an evolving news landscape. Ultimately, this research highlights the personal and collective importance of news engagement, reflecting a deep human need for connection, even in a climate of growing mistrust.
Department/s
- Division of English Studies
- Master's Programme: Language and Linguistics
- Cognitive Semiotics
Publishing year
2024
Language
English
Full text
Document type
Student publication for Master's degree (two years)
Topic
- Languages and Literatures
Keywords
- Cognitive Semiotics
- Disinformation
- Media
- News
- Trust
- Phenomenology
- Phenomenological triangulation
- Photovoice
- Semiotic Systems
- South Africa
Supervisor
- Alexandra Mouratidou
- Jordan Zlatev (Docent)