My research report focuses on how Generation Z (GenZ) discerns credible, legitimate news and information from misinformation. How can news outlets make content more appealing to GenZ – building on accurate news reporting and reaching them through various methods and formats in digital media? Eleven journalism major GenZ students were interviewed to find out about how they access news media and other sources of information, and how they go about researching topics for their education, work, and personal interests.
These students are able to tap into their extensive experience with digital media, computers and mobile devices. If they’ve been concerned about the validity of statements made by political candidates, they’ve been able to enter interactive spaces such as Reddit and Instagram to do more research and put the question out there with peers. They might go to other sites such as Wikipedia or a government website to do that research; and then to share their experience with like-minded people in a user group on Reddit, Discord or a chat group or discussion forum. If fake news is being spread by a political group, they can spot it and reject it, and make comments exposing it – if they choose to. Navigating through social media and other user groups has been a common practice for them since being teenagers.
Jon LeSage 