IMPACT OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM IN FACEBOOK TOWARDS

CREDIBILITY OF ONLINE NEWS STORIES

An Undergraduate Thesis
Presented to the
Faculty of the College of Arts and Letters
University of Rizal System
Angono, Rizal

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

BELANDRIA, GENALYN P.
CONEL, JINKY
LEBRELLA, SEANNE P.
NARIDO, AICE C.
TIMBREZA, MARK ANGELO T.

December 2023
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter contains the introduction, background and purpose of the study,

the theoretical and conceptual framework, the review of related literature, the

statement of the problem, the scope and limitations of the study, significance

of the study and the definition of terms.

Introduction

The evolution of the internet has developed significant changes into the

collection and dissemination of information. News and information are not

solely found on mainstream media but the internet provides a new role to

produce alternative sources of information where citizens are the source of

information that reaches their computer and phone screens to capture

important events. The Internet allows citizens to be liberated to share and

spread their personal experience in event or real time and through this public

opinion is formed that leads engagement to the public. Traditionally, people

consume news and information from mainstream media such as television,

radio, or in print media to give everyday information. The Internet as an

avenue of citizen created a new form of reporting that takes place ahead of

traditional media structures. Citizens form a public opinion that evolves on the

shared rights of democracy wherein public opinion needs to be exercised and

it is recognizable that public opinion is vital in statecraft as public views are

important to be heard.

Citizen journalism is the process of dissemination, collection, and reporting

of news and information that is carried out by common citizens (Riaz,2023).

Citizen journalism is the channel of on the ground events that happened on

the grassroots of citizens. Several media platforms have also done this

process of reporting that evolves until today like the social networking sites X

formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and many existing social

networking sites where citizen would only upload news and information on the

internet, It is also an alternative and regarded as activist form of news

gathering and reporting outside the mainstream media institutions.

Professional journalists are not only the sources of news and information

where they are being operated by media companies and abide on policies

and ethical principles. Journalists are governed by ethics in reporting the

news accurately in response to the need for relevant information.

According to the article of Phala, N. (2020), unlike the practice of

journalists, citizen journalism lacks vast knowledge on journalistic ethics and

standards while a pro journo is garnished with the knowledge of ethics

through education and training. However, since the citizens are not regulated

with what they report, some of them may be sharing news that gives way to

public agenda and sensitive information. Citizen journalists enjoy the unlimited

publishing power of any news without being censored, quoted, or red -

tagged. Journalists deal with a crucial role in reporting to produce quality

news contents.

Citizen journalists use platforms such as blogs, podcasts, social media,

and YouTube as technology opens many doors and practically anyone with a

smartphone and laptop can report a story. Citizen journalists act

independently and immerse themselves in the process of storytelling (Hill,

2022). Mainstream media rapidly loses public trust and its credibility and

people are switching off the nightly news and instead swiping their

smartphones. The emergence of citizen journalists has also adapted social

media as the main source of news online with more than 2.4 billion internet

users. It could be assumed that people rely their source of news on the

internet and 64. 5 percent receive their breaking news from social networking

sites Facebook, X, and YouTube (Martin, 2018).

Online news story, according to Yegen (2019), online news stories or

news related contents is being categorized as a digital news wherein the

news is being shared and published through different online platforms that

has been accessed by various personalities and with the help of internet

citizens can easily upload relevant information.

In the study of Craft and Lewis (2015), they assert that the practice of

citizen journalism may challenge the credibility of news related content

brought by many arising factors such as citizen expertise, transparency,

impartiality and its ethical principles. It says that credibility of news related

content produced includes verification and transparency. Furthermore,

citizens can produce news contents as it has been argued that media

practitioners are not the sole sources of news since people who were

consumers of news then can now make and report news themselves. In the

article of Jurrat, N. (2011), it says that citizen journalists have become regular

contributors to mainstream news that provides information and hail this

opportunity to improve the traditional media landscape and place it on

personal accounts, undermining ethical standards, and eventually

professional journalism. According to the study of Roberts, J. (2019),

advocates praise the democratizing potential of citizen involvement in these

processes wherein the credibility or quality of news related contents may be

affected. Also, Citizen Journalist Now, (2019) in their article, with the rise of

social media, citizen journalism continues to soar as many people are seizing

the opportunity to spread news, awareness, and other valuable information to

the public. However, Citizen journalism rises along with technological

advancement, and based on how we project progress, it is likely that it will

now be a part of spreading information. Thus, citizen journalism empowered

citizens to disseminate relevant information that could be easily accessed by

many news and information consumers.

Upon discussing the two main variables of the research which are

citizen journalism and credibility of online news stories. It can make a

conclusion that somehow citizen journalism news related contents may

challenge its credibility due to many factors and critical to the news

consumption of citizens. In line with this, the study aims to know existing

factors that has an impacts to the news consumers brought by citizen

journalists news contents by understanding their experience phenomena. The

Researchers will also investigate the vulnerability of citizen journalists to

share information on Facebook that is not reliable and came from unlegitimate

source that has an impact to its credibility. News related contents which are

produced by media outlets may be used by citizens in their public discussions

that can engage other consumers. The researchers believe that it is beneficial

to raise this concern on the height of spreading of false information and to

address fact-checking that will enable the consumer of information to be

media literate citizens.

The researchers will analyze and determine the impacts of citizen

journalism in Facebook towards the credibility of online news stories.

Background and Purpose of the study

Citizen Journalism is the process of the reporting of news events by

members of the public using the internet to spread the information (Rouse,

2012). It is a wide range of internet practices whereby “ordinary people” or

users engage in journalistic practices that includes current affairs-based

blogging, photo, video sharing, and posting eyewitness commentary on

current events. Citizen journalists are the producer of information who witness

accidents and unexpected events. Citizen journalists are not professional

journalists without special training in journalism who record or write news

stories with their cameras and phone at hand and through this type of

journalism they are able to report events that result in democratized news.

Citizens produce news related contents that happened on the ground and

then report on the internet. Citizen journalism emerged in the early 2000s in

the world as citizens learn to use their gadgets to inform the public up until

this day that reports news as an evolution of our alternative sources of news

and information (Dangerfield, 2013).

Citizen journalism took into revolutionary progress in technology that

produced news and shared information using advanced gadgets through

various forms and it was citizen journalism that reported easily breaking news

which no one knows about at the power of citizens (Allen, 2010). As time
passes by, citizens are more and more involved in the gathering of

information and a role of a reporter that could challenge the credibility of

news-related contents leading to the spread of misinformation and

disinformation. Less than a decade ago, the usage of social media was just

starting to find its footing to connect into people's everyday life, not until it was

being developed and soon the consumption of news and its spread were

reported by citizens on the internet (Davidson, 2017). However, this type of

journalism is changing the mainstream media, the conception of news

production and consumption even though opinions about the impact it has on

mainstream media contradict (Cela, 2015). As Goode (2009) explains, citizen

journalism is generally associated with the internet and people use it as their

alternative source of information. Also Naab and Sehl, (2016), the task of

citizen journalism became more difficult to understand and its limits reveal the

true nature of such interaction between different online users. Citizen

journalism has its innate shortcomings that create practical limitations on its

goals specifically, citizens’ lack of adequate credibility limits that affects the

content they produce (Fall, 2013 ; Fall, 2014).

Furthermore, ordinary citizens are increasingly able to act as independent

agents in the production of news with the help of various interactive,

participatory tools (Bowman & Wills, 2003 ; Nah, 2008). As citizens

increasingly participate in news production, however, many have become

concerned with the credibility of news stories (Kramer, 2004 ; Lasica, 2003).

Credibility of information is perceived to be attained through objective

reporting practices that are critical to professional Journalism. Based on

Kovach and Rosenstiel (2021), wrote in their book, The Elements of

Journalism, fourth edition : What should news people should know and the

public should expect on its first principle that a journalist must adhere to the

first obligation that information should be anchored on truth. Kovach and

Rosenstiel also reiterated that a journalist should practice the discipline of

verification to produce quality news content. Social networking sites such as

X, Instagram, and Facebook mainly use these platforms as their source of

news and information. The nature of reporting by citizen journalists challenges

these poses on media regulating laws and journalistic ethics as reporting of

the news is different from professional journalists particularly on Facebook as

their main source of news (Sabao & Vimbai, 2017). Facebook has given

journalism a new platform where anyone can share news related contents.

According to Pew Research center, 16 % of Facebook users use it for getting

news updates that develop their traditional mode of news consumption.

Previous studies also showed that every journalist around the world is using

Facebook for news making,sharing, and selection while Twitter has been

used as a platform for journalists to news reporting and reaching out sources

(Edubirdie, 2023).

In the past, several research studies have been carried out to

understand citizen journalism as an alternative source of information that lead

to democratization of news (Goodie, 2009 ; Atton, 2009). Also in the study of

Miller (2019), he explains that citizen journalists have disrupted news media

ecosystems by challenging representation of information flowing from

mainstream news-media newsrooms. According to Noor (2017) in their study,

it also implies that citizen journalism does not pose any imminent threat to

mainstream journalism and in fact this practice holds potential benefits as a

source of news aside from that citizen proves to be useful to bring to fore the

stories that are inaccessible to professional journalists.

Several studies reveal that social network sites such Facebook have

become an integral part of accessing news that when users engage in

Facebook they will not necessarily engage with the content they encounter

but will only base on their encountered news article and guided by users

perception of the news in the issues linked on the article (Kumpel, 2019).

Thus, Understanding how citizens keep themselves informed about current

affairs is crucial for a functioning democracy (Moller et al., 2020).

However, the practice of citizen journalism has mobilized the usage of

social media into a more holistically approach of news sharing to the public.

Citizen journalism leads to the public sphere as citizen journalism networks,

but also in the possibility of a more ‘reflexive’ culture of news consumption

through citizen participation. Citizen Journalism provides a new role in

gathering information in local communities or remote areas. Facebook as the

leading social media platform allows citizens to publish information that could

be easily accessed by many internet users. This may challenge the credibility

of news related content that is being used by citizen journalists in their

platforms and may influence the consumption of news consumers online.

Citizen journalism is anchored on the democratization of opinions by the

movement of citizens to report news that happened on the ground then

uploaded easily on the internet.

Hence, this research paper seeks to determine the Impact of Citizen

Journalism in Facebook towards the credibility of online news stories at the

news consumption of selected participants at University of Rizal System

Angono with regards to their news consumption.

Theoretical Framework

The study is anchored on the Public Sphere theory based on the work of

German sociologist Jürgen Habermas (1991), who provided a comprehensive

analysis of the nature of the public sphere and its historic transformation. This

theory refers to the idea that the public sphere is the domain of social life

where public opinion can be formed. It also states that there is no intimidating

force behind the public sphere, but its citizens assemble and unite freely to

express their opinions. The idea of the public sphere is centered on a

participatory approach, which leads to democracy where citizens come

together to exchange opinions on particular discussions. This theory also

elaborates the grassroots of citizen participation in society as a result of

democratization.

Oladepo (2015) citing public sphere theory explains that the ‘public

sphere’ is a realm of communication and interaction where citizens or other

interested parties confer, discuss, and articulate information, knowledge,

understanding, and views on different matters. Furthermore, the public sphere

is a space for citizens to fully express their opinions and have an equal

chance to share information, debate, or deliberate concerns. For instance,

citizen journalists in Facebook use this platform as a public sphere and

avenue to share news related contents and information where the media

consumers have a chance to engage in information sharing.

Another key theory of this study is Agenda-Setting Theory of Dr.

Max McCombs and Dr. Donald Shaw (1972). This theory emphasized that
media filters and shapes what we see rather than just reflecting stories to the

audience. It also implies that mass media plays an integral role in shaping the

public opinion where news media is not limited to focusing public attention on

a particular set of Issues but also influences our understanding and

perspective on the topics in the news (McCombs & Valenzuela, 2007). The

importance placed on the topics of the public Agenda, this theory elaborates

the connection in terms of relationships between the emphasis that the mass

media put on an issue and the media audiences or the public's reaction or

attributes to such an issue (Littlejohn and Foss, 2009). Citizen journalists as

the producers of news related contents set their own agenda in order to

engage citizens into opinion sharing in the public sphere that reflect their view

on the selection of news items to successfully produce news and information.

Therefore, the researchers concurred that these theories would

support the study.

Conceptual Framework

On the theory that was presented by the researchers, they were able to

formulate and design the conceptual framework of the study.

The conceptual model served as a guide for the study in which the

researcher followed the input, Process and Output model shown in Figure 1.

The first box is the input containing the respondents who will participate

in this study, their knowledge and viewpoint.

The second box contains the process to be performed by the

researchers which includes data gathering through in-depth interviews. The

responses acquired through the interview that are analyzed, coded and

interpreted by the researcher at the end of the process.

The last box which contains the output interprets the Impact of Citizen

Journalism in Facebook towards the Credibility of Online News Stories.

The arrow represents the direct flow of the diagram which is the Input,

Process and Output. This model will indicate how researchers interpret the

data that they gathered from their corresponding respondents.

Conceptual Model

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 10 SELCTED  SURVEY-  IMPACT OF

PARCTICIPANTS QUESTIONNAIRE CITIZEN
FROM AB-  IN-DEPTH JOURNALISM
JOURNALISM INTERVIEW IN FACEBOOK
1ST YEAR STUDENTS  CODING OF TOWARDS
OF UNIVERSITY OF THEMES CREDIBILITY OF
RIZAL SYSTEM ONLINE NEWS
ANGONO STORIES

Figure 1

A conceptual model showing the Impact of Citizen Journalism in Facebook Towards

Credibility of Online News Stories.

Review of Related Literature

The evolution of technology has provided citizens to record events and

report it on the internet wherein citizen journalists collect and analyze

information from the general public, the notion is everyone is a reporter

empowers people and encourages everyone to engage with news reporting

(Wolbert, 2021; Jayakody, 2022). This research aims to determine the

impacts of citizen journalism in Facebook towards the credibility of online

news stories in the selected first - year AB journalism students at University of

Rizal System Angono.

The birth of citizen journalism

Citizen journalism evolved worldwide in the early 2000s that is often

attributed to South Korea where the first platform of amateur generated

information OhMyNews created ; principle of citizen journalism implies that

anyone can take part in the process of creating information (Dangerfield,

2013). However, there is a challenge with the quality of news produced by

citizen journalists that leads to mistrust on its content adding the question on

its credibility (Harro-Loit, 2015). The internet has produced a new form of

news consumption by citizens where they can still be updated on everyday

news. A phenomenon known as the “twitter effect” in social media has

become an integral part of today's news gathering during major events. Real

time tweets, amateur videos on YouTube and first-hand accounts on

Facebook fill up the news-vacuum that until a few years ago characterized the

aftermath of major crisis events (Bruno, 2011). According to Radsch (2013),

citizen journalism is an alternative and activist form of news gathering and

reporting that functions outside mainstream media institutions, often as a

response to shortcomings in the professional journalistic field. It takes a

different approach but uses similar journalistic practices but is driven by

different objectives and ideals and relies on alternative sources of legitimacy

than traditional or mainstream journalism. However, the controversy related to

the desire of citizen involvement in the news process is a historical debate

that began before the citizen journalism phenomenon. In the early 1920s,

journalist and political commentator Walter Lippman and American

philosopher John Dewey debated the role of journalism in democracy (Miller,

2019). It has also been debated the extent to which the public should

participate in the news - gathering and production processes.

The current state of citizen journalism

Citizen journalism practice had been used worldwide as an alternative

source of information. The reliance on untrained reporters with limited or no

understanding of journalistic standards has become increasingly widespread

particularly in less democratic environments and these practices have

impacted news gathering and reporting. Also, debates have arisen on the

conceivability, capacity, reliability and acceptability of citizen journalists due to

the lack of professional standards associated with this profession. Citizen

journalism in several countries continues to develop such as Zimbabwe and

Mozambique, wherein they examined in-depth in the study of current

frameworks, trends, practices, and principles of citizen journalism in Africa.

Analysis suggests that reconceptualization of citizen journalism is imperative

to several factors including improved access to the internet and changing

attitudes toward political dissent and participation (Mutsvairo & Salgado,

2022). The practice of citizen journalism particularly in rural areas, have

adopted the internet to create alternative space for multiple viewpoints, rural

development received limited access from the mainstream media (Mahamed

et al., 2018). This form of journalism is making an attempt to address

problems by enabling rural communities to obtain and report news. The

Southeast Asian region has witnessed an increase in citizen journalism

phenomenon. However, studies suggest that being a journalist in this

particular country is not dangerous as in other nations in the world, but

governments use abusive control and legislation to limit the freedom of

speech and most commonly it can be argued that media and journalists are

being influenced in their practice of self - censorship (Irene, 2017).

Citizen journalism in the Philippines

A study by Venzon (2017), on the current state of citizen journalism in

the Philippines, illustrates how to utilize the advent of new technologies,

particularly the internet, for its practice and its potential of becoming “fifth

estate” - a watchdog of all the other four estates. Study revealed that the

Philippines has yet to reach the legitimate actualization of what could be

considered as fifth estate on the finding that citizen journalism lacks influence

in Philippine society, compared with its professional journalism counterpart.

The Philippine mainstream media highly acknowledge the presence of citizen

journalists in their role of gathering and disseminating news and their impact

to the communities (Garde, 2012). Citizen journalism thrives in the countries

where the internet penetration rates and new communication tools are

increasing quickly. Citizen - generated news links, photos, and videos often

spread quickly and widely via social networking sites like Facebook, X and

YouTube that contribute to the vibrant citizen media scene in the country and

in Asia such as the Philippines (Santos, 2010). Public pressure for public

accountability nearly developed the current citizen journalism in the country

with its concerned citizens anchored on participatory approach of reporting

news on the ground, it could be implied that the practice of citizen journalism

is evolving and developing.

Citizen journalism on traditional media

In Luo and Harrison (2019) study, in China, besides ordinary citizen

journalists, some professional journalists have been regarded as citizen

journalists if they write stories online that would otherwise not be publishable

in traditional media. Ordinary citizens in China act as collective citizen

journalists, which insulates them against individually targeted criticisms for

their opinions. Agenda - setting theory is applied as an approach to explain

citizen journalist contribution to the content of traditional media and the policy

making process in China. The online public acts collectively to influence and

contribute to the content of the traditional media and policies the government

considers, thus changing the nature of journalism and the public sphere. Two

decades later, citizen journalists who share their opinions and point of view

are beating the traditional news outlets in the field of journalism where they

are free to publish anything and immerse themselves in the story, reporting

firsthand and immediately broadcast the uncensored footage online, often

before ‘real’ reporters (Hill, 2022). Traditional journalists are characterized by

observing media ethics and legal consideration concerns while citizen

journalists lack training and orientation on media ethics still create challenge

and conflict on different as journalistic practices (Fisher, 2018).

Citizen journalism quality of news content and mainstream media

 The rise of participatory journalism or commonly known as citizen

journalism prompted a challenge on its information dissemination and their

way of gathering and reporting of news. It has been examined that citizen

journalists are challenged to provide accurate and objective information

without being fully influenced by their thought and it is important to note that

collaboration between the citizen and professional journalists is very essential

to maintain the quality of news they produce (Akifah, 2012). Increase in citizen

generated news shows the need to understand how individual predispositions

interact with news sources to influence perceptions of news credibility become

increasingly important, previous study examined by Carr reveal the influence

in individual predispositions towards the media and politics that have on

perceived credibility of mainstream and citizen journalism. Results indicate

that media skepticism and political cynicism interact and citizen journalism are

perceived as more credible by cynics and skeptics while non-skeptics think

mainstream media is more credible.

Gen Z on the digital news consumption

Mainstream media has evidently provided an avenue for generation z

adults age 18 - 25 age as their platform to consume daily news updates. Gen

Z consumers may be at the vanguard of a lasting shift in news consumption

with teens leading the way. Mobile devices assist consumers with news alerts

and notifications, and social media feeds are the central platform of young

people to keep engaged on social issues and current events (Auxier &

Arbanas 2022). Citizen journalism has widely played an integral role to

citizens' daily source of information from the height of technological

advancement of social media platforms such as Facebook, X , and in many

tenets of social media. With individual capacity to own mobile devices, people

consciously browse news - related content produced by ordinary citizens who

post and share it online leading to a vast engagement in the public. However,

since citizen journalism is not the same as the journalistic process of

professional journalists, its ethical judgement on news contents may question

its credibility. Thus, the perceived news contents consumed by individuals

might influence their news consumption on daily news activities with the fast

pace delivering of current events by citizen journalists on feeds and live

updates. Citizen journalism is a global change of news reportage to the young

generation who are actively participating in memes, shared posts, and news

updates allowing a large avenue for social interaction and communication.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to determine the Impact of Citizen Journalism in

Facebook towards the credibility of online news stories in the selected first

year AB Journalism student of University of Rizal Angono.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of first-year journalism student of University of Rizal-

Angono?

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

2. How does news-related contents published by citizen journalists affect

1st year journalism students in their consumption of news, particularly on

Facebook?
Assumptions

The study assumes that there is a significant relationship between citizen

journalism in Facebook and credibility of online news stories.

Scope and limitation

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of citizen journalism

on Facebook towards the credibility of online news stories among selected

first - year AB Journalism students of University of Rizal-Angono Campus.

This study looked at the citizen journalism and credibility of online news

stories with regards to their impacts with each other and Facebook is utilized

as a platform of news - related contents in which journalism students

consume information.

The research study’s respondents were purposely selected. There were

ten (10) respondents in this research who were selected first - year AB

Journalism students of University of Rizal Angono Campus.

Significance of the study

The results of the study will be of great benefit of the following:

Facebook users. The results of the study will help Facebook users, who are

vulnerable to encountering misinformation and disinformation particularly on

Facebook that will lead them to engage in fact-checking. Results would also

develop consumer abilities in critical thinking skills, decision-making, and

preventing the spread of false information.

Citizen Journalists. The study will help citizen journalists evaluate their

Facebook content which may influence the credibility of online news stories to
consumers of information. Results would also develop the selection of future

content based on the quality of information that is shared on online platforms.

Society. The study will help society or consumers be more knowledgeable

and mindful about counterfactual information posts on Facebook.

Journalism Students. The study will help the students to be critical in news

consumption and evaluate its credibility.

Definition of Terms

For better understanding of the study, the following terms are defined

conceptually and operationally.

Citizen Journalism. It refers to a type of journalism that is conducted by

people who are not professional journalists but who disseminate information

using Web sites, blogs, and social media.

Citizen Journalist. An ordinary person without special training who

records or writes about news stories on the internet.

Credibility. it is the fact that someone can be believed or trusted.

Facebook. It is a social networking website where users can post

comments, share photographs, and post links to news or other interesting

content on the web, chat live, and watch short-form video.

Impact. it is a situation, process, or person means to affect them.

Online News Story. It refers to various online platforms and can be

defined as digital news.

CHAPTER 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 This chapter presents the research design, setting and subject of the

study, sources of data, procedure of the study, and ethical considerations that

will be used for the research study.

Research Design

The study utilized in this study was the descriptive method design. It is a

research method that tries to describe phenomenon, occurrence, event, that

happens in the present that involves gathering of information about present

existing conditions (Creswell, 1994).

This study used a qualitative method design since it seeks to understand

people’s behavior, attitudes, their value systems, concerns, motivations, and

culture or life styles (Franket et al., 2012).

This study used a qualitative design since it seeks to answer phenomena

experienced by the informants, first-year students. Specifically, the study aims

to know the Impacts of citizen Journalism on Facebook towards the credibility

of online news stories.

Setting of the Study

 The research study was conducted at the University of Rizal System

Angono campus. URS Angono or formerly known as Rizal State College

(RSC - Angono) is a public educational institution that is currently headed by

campus director, Dr. Norma F. Elviña along with Professor Wahinee M.

Cruzada as Dean of College of Arts and Letters, and Professor Celina B.

Cerda as Dean of College of Education.

Figure 2

Vicinity Map of University of Rizal System Angono Campus

Subject of the Study

 The respondents of this investigation were chosen from the selected first -

year AB Journalism students of University of Rizal System Angono Campus.

The researchers contend that the respondents are fitting for this study, which

scrutinizes the impacts of citizen journalism in Facebook towards credibility of

online news stories. The selected first-year journalism students are pertinent

to this area of interest as they have been an active part of citizen journalism in

Facebook since they engage in news consumption and exchange of public

opinion.

Procedure of the Study

 This section explained the specific steps that the researchers

underwent during the data collection. The process started with the

researchers themselves. The researchers were in good condition and knew

how to build connections with the respondents. The way how respondents

interacted is highly affected by how the researchers approached them. So it is

important to have good communication skills in order to have responsible and

reliable respondents. In relation to this, the researchers made a letter of

permission and gave it to the research adviser as well as to the dean of the

department for approval to conduct the research outside the school premises.

When the letter of request and permission have been approved, the

researchers started to gather answers from the respondents in Rizal where

the study was conducted and the data was collected. The researchers used

the vacant time of the respondents in administering the study. The

researchers had an in-depth interview; this helped the respondents to know

the impact of Citizen Journalism towards credibility of online news stories.

The steps and procedures listed were a great help to make the study well-

planned and organized.

Ethical Considerations
 This section states some ethical principles that the researchers

observed in doing data collection and in doing the whole research itself.

The following are some of the ethical principles that researchers observed:

Confidentiality. The researchers considered confidentiality to secure every

respondents’ profile and answer.

Honesty and Integrity. The data gathered was based on facts and the results

was not fabricated.

Objectivity. The researchers considered objectivity to avoid biases with

regards to the respondents’ personal decisions and opinions.

Carefulness. The researchers observed carefulness to avoid careless

mistakes in gathering the data that are needed for the study.

Openness. The researchers are willing to share the result of this study which

will greatly benefit the Citizen Journalists, future researchers and the society

in general.

The different ethics mentioned could be a great help to promote the aims of

this research imparting authentic knowledge, truth and prevention of error.

Following these ethics can build mutual trust and respect with all the people

involved.

Sources of Data
 The research conducted an in-depth interview to the selected

respondent of the study. These questions are derived from the statement of

the problem to distinctly know the aim of the study.

According to Boyce and Neale (2006), in-depth interviews is a qualitative

research technique that involves conducting intensive individual interviews

with a small number of respondents to explore their perspectives on a

particular idea, program, or situation.

CHAPTER 3
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents all the data gathered. These are interpreted and

analyzed based on the answers provided by the participants in the discussion.

Results and discussion are presented according to the emerging themes that

were extracted from the results of the research questions in this study using

thematic analysis.

Table 1

Profile of the respondents

RESPONDENTS AGE GENDER

Student 1 18 Female

Student 2 18 Male

Student 3 19 Male

Student 4 18 Male

Student 5 18 Male

Student 6 18 Male

Student 7 19 Male

Student 8 27 Female

Student 9 21 Female

Student 10 18 Female

Table 2
 Themes and Codes of Thematic Analysis

Themes Codes

News credibility
News content produced by challenge
citizen journalist Unlegitimate sources

Lack of expertise
Trust legitimate media sources
Provide enough sources from Accurate and reliable
trustworthy media organizations
Provide quotation
Awareness of fake news

To Fight fake news Democracy of information

Excercise of truth

Trusts in professional journalists

Not open to citizen journalism Doubtful

Rumor

Risk of citizen journalism news Citizen journalism threat

content on Facebook Threat to public information

Fact-checking

Participants respond to news consumption produced by citizen

journalists' content.
 The researchers looked at how participants in citizen journalism on
Facebook engaged and consumed news. As we dug deeper into their
experience, we discovered a problem with the legitimacy of the content
produced by citizen journalists. Using the key informant interview we
conducted with them, the researchers discovered emerging themes from their
answers regarding participants' Facebook news consumption. Participants
revealed that professional Journalists' contents are more credible rather than
contents published by citizen journalists.

News content produced by citizen journalists. We conducted

interviews with our participants as we obtained data from them. Student 4 said
that he is not much consuming citizen journalism contents and admitted that
he preferred news that came from professional journalists and well known
media outlets. He also contends that he allows the algorithms of his Facebook
to decide what contents he may consume. Educational news contents, current
events, politics, and health related news are the most common news types
appearing on their Facebook (S4 and S5).

“I guess, since, ako [po] kasi [po] from my Facebook feed, I don’t really
consume all that (citizen journalism) news type of related content but I guess
the most common nga [po] is that in government related content and news
content and the mainstream media from GMA, ABS-CBN and TV5 type of
content [po], news content.” (S4 10/01/2023)

He added that although there is an advantage of fast delivering of news

content produced by citizen journalists on Facebook, he preferred to consume
news by legitimate sources such as content produced by professional
journalists. He is still also aware that citizen journalists are not professional in
the field of journalism and may produce misleading information especially on
Facebook where fake news is rampant. Credibility is a central professional
values for journalists, for audiences, perceived credibility of the media affects
choices and responses of news (Metzger et al., 2003)

Student 4 also added that he sees citizen journalism as a convenient type

of news consumption where news is provided by ordinary citizens. However,
some of the information is not actually cited by credible sources and just also
brings misleading types of news to the audience. Based on his observation,
most of the people are not actually inclined to do research and fact-checking,
especially the older generation who are prone to encounter fake news. He
also believed that publishing a news story must be anchored in the highest
responsibility of ethical judgement and must take time to validate news and
information. He can say that news published by citizen journalist is
consumable for the public, it also drives the challenge on verification of truth
such in social networking app Facebook where citizen journalists can easily
uploaded images, videos, text, or visual without any enough sources or
context that spread out through social media and share by news consumer.

He further explained that mainstream media in television broadcast

presented by news anchor and reporters like TV Patrol, GMA, TV5 and
government owned media entities like PTV4 is what he considered as a
credible type of journalism that is accurate and verifiable for news
consumption. According to Digital News Report survey in 2022, news brand is
important for Filipinos on their classification of overall trust in news which also
means that professional journalists are regarded as reliable of news and
information with the source of their news online including social media in
general which garnered 88 % audience, it also suggest that Filipino paid most
attention not only to specific news outlets but to specific journalists and
commentators (Chua, 2022).

Provide enough sources from trustworthy media organizations.

Credible sources by legitimate news media organizations are crucial in

participants' news consumption that provide factual evidence and accurate
news and information. Student 6 views that news must attribute quotations
presented by news actors during the news event that is necessary for readers’
engagement with perceived credibility of news.

“Sa mga balita po, tinitingnan ko talaga ano… kapag mayroong quotation,
turo din po kasi sa amin sa campus journalism na mahalaga yung quotation
kasi nagbibigay or nagdadagdag siya ng ano … credibility sa isang balita. At
tsaka kapag may source siya na totoo.”

(S6 10/01/2023)

According to Student 6 aside from providing sources and evidence to

prove the legitimacy of a certain news produced by citizen journalists, quotes
are essential aspects to strengthen the credibility of news stories. Quotes
which concern news source’s speech are rendered verbatim, indirect quotes,
and direct where news source’s speech is paraphrased which increases the
liveliness and full authenticity of news and adheres to its reliability. He also
mentioned in the interview that citizen journalists are ahead of television
broadcasting due to advanced technology where social media has become a
gateway for news consumption for online audiences. Student 6 explained that
when he reads news or consumes news, he allows time to fact-check or at
least look for original context or references of news.

Student 6 added that the credibility of news would also be based on

trustworthy news organizations. Through this, he was able to check if the
news content contains misleading information particularly when he browsed
his Facebook account where fact-checking is a must to know that news is
trustworthy and reliable.

“It highlights yung importansya ng pagbibigay at mahahalaga, at totoong mga

balita ng society at tsaka it inform us. Bilang isang journalism student, I-fact check or
tingnan yung content kung tama yung information na naibibigay dahil kapag mali
yung balita walang taong maniniwala.”

(S6 10/01/2023)

According to Pew Research Center, when using social media, it may not
be clear when to fact-check but knowing how to fact-check is a helpful skill
when engaging in online news content. Understanding where the source
came from would help the audience to assess news credibility. Furthermore,
audiences should be critical by clearly reading the full context of news and
look for original sources. However, according to student 6, citizen journalists'
contents would have a negative effect directly on him knowing that they are
not professional and are not trained to rigorous process of news gathering
where misleading information and fake news may occur. Citizen journalism
indeed plays an integral role to disseminate news on social media by average
citizens but it is also most likened to challenged professional journalists
lacking its credibility which is the basic tenet of journalism (Traub, 2014).

To Fight Fake News. Furthermore, credible news content and sources

implies that the public is aware of the spread of fake news and the exercise of
truth for the legitimacy of democracy that is inclined on reliable sources. (S3
and S5)

“Para po sa akin is it tackles about the democracy and loyalty as a Filipino

citizen. Dapat aware po tayo sa nangyayari sa lipunang ginagalawan natin at
personal life. Without news credibility there’s an urge to spread fake news
and misleading information.

(S3 10/13/2023)

According to a study by the Radio Television Digital News Association,

People nowadays don't know the importance of news credibility on an

everyday basis. Data shows that 60% of local news viewers are in Strong

Agreement that one journalist can compel people to tune out. Which only

constitutes one of several factors that have a huge impact on trust in local

news credibility (Radio NK).

Student 3 also added that being in today's generation almost everyone is

using technology especially in getting news and information in media, more

particularly in Facebook. He stated that people should not depend solely on

what they have read online unless there is a credible source to validate the

news that is spread on facebook. He even observed that citizen journalists are

rampant in Facebook and other social media platforms sharing information

which has the effect of challenging the credibility of online news stories

content, but he added that as a future journalist he will take step on reading

reliable articles and trustworthy news media outlets that will serve as his guide

in producing or sharing information. According to West, Journalism is in a

state of considerable flux. New digital platforms have unleashed innovative

journalistic practices that enable novel forms of communication and greater

global reach than at any point in human history. But on the other hand,

disinformation and hoaxes that are popularly referred to as “fake news” are

accelerating and affecting the way individuals interpret daily developments.

Driven by foreign actors, citizen journalism, and the proliferation of talk radio

and cable news, many information systems have become more polarized and

contentious, and there has been a precipitous decline in public trust in

traditional journalism. To fight fake news governments should promote news

literacy and strong professional journalism in their societies. The news

industry must provide high-quality journalism in order to build public trust and

correct fake news and disinformation without legitimizing them. Technology

companies should invest in tools that identify fake news, reduce financial

incentives for those who profit from disinformation, and improve online

accountability. Educational institutions should make informing people about

news literacy a high priority. Finally, individuals should follow a diversity of

news sources, and be skeptical of what they read and watch (West,2017),

Not Open to Citizen Journalism. We have come up with the theme of not
open to citizen journalism because of the experience and perception of the
majority of respondents. Despite the fact that citizen journalists give data
regarding news, they were doubtful of the sources and trustworthiness of the
information, and they preferred to consume it from professional journalists.
“Katulad po din nang sabi ko kanina syempre po may advantage and
disadvantages . Pero syempre po diba as a citizen din po parang ang tingin
po natin kapag nagbabasa or nanonood tayo ng balita mas naniniwala po
tayo doon sa mga professional journalist since alam po natin na mas credible
yung news na shineshare nila.” (S1 10/01/23)

She also stated that, at the end of the day, she will always consume
online news information generated by professional journalists since they are
more effective and believable because they adhere to ethical standards, as
opposed to citizen journalists. According to the study, citizen journalists tend
to be “passers-by” or “eye-witnesses” with a view of events on a mere surface
level. This is totally in contrast to traditional journalists who have to go through
procedures and proper journalism standard practices to ensure any news
published is as accurate as possible. (The Changes of Media Landscape in
Malaysia: How Citizen Journalism Poses Threats to Traditional Media, n.d.)

Student 10 also stated that she will most likely not consume news
material from citizen journalists and will instead go straight to professional
journalists for as long as possible. She believes that online news material is
untrustworthy because it is frequently based on unverified and unknown
sources, as compared with news content created by professional journalists,
which allows you to browse articles, related papers, and even verify it from
trusted sources.

“Syempre, hindi po ako naniniwala kasi it could be rumor, maganda po kasi

na diretso balita na.” (S10)

According to research, Local newspapers and other traditional media

outlets remain the best option for reliable reporting. Their reporters are
trained. They follow professional standards. They have editors who make sure
facts are verified and quotes are accurate. They abide by journalistic ethics.
That system fails sometimes, but when professional journalists make a
mistake, they correct it. That is the most basic compact between the press
and the public. (Trejbal, 2020)
Risk of citizen journalism news contents on Facebook. We have come

up with this theme that emerged during our Interview, risk of citizen

journalism contents on Facebook where participants addressed the

importance of understanding the effect of fake news to people’s everyday

news consumption. Student 9 stated that people must be vigilant when

engaging or participating in news consumption particularly on social media.

“Malaking epekto [po] siya pagdating sa ano [po] yung dapat at hindi dapat

paniwalaan since may mga citizen journalist nga [po] na very creative po

sila sa pag gagawa ng mga news [po] since yung creativity [po] nila minsan

nakakapukaw ng atensiyon yung way [po] nila of spreading news minsan

nga po nadi-disregard natin if its credible [po] ba or is it already fiction na

nagbabase sa reality kaya it's very important [po] for me to have basic

foundation which we have to be very vigilant we have to be ahm masigasig

po tayo dapat magengage po tayo sa mga news and information po.”

“As a journalism student I'm always encourage to do fact checking bago mag

engage sa mga post and syempre [po] napaka importante na meron tayo

malalim na kaalaman sa isang bagay [po] bago tayo gumawa kilos and I think

[po] as a journalism student it is really our advantage since we are being

taught to always look for credibility at kapag maging complacent just because

feeling natin ah binigay na sa atin lahat ng information okay na ‘to since we

are journalism student we’re always expecting to look for further information

na magpoprove [po] na credible ang isang source and I think it's a great

opportunity to educate people as well by sharing knowledge para kahit sila rin

[po] maiwasan din [po] mag spread and maniwala [po] sa mga fake news [po].
 (S6 10/01/2023)

Student 9 stated that as a journalism student it is important for her to have

enough ideal knowledge and concepts on particular content that she intends
to share on Facebook. A direct impact of citizen journalism on Facebook to
audiences emerges as they consume news online and a challenge to
professional journalists is to strive for its credibility and pose trust to the
public.

According to a study, although there is risk at citizen journalism contents

published in Facebook. It gives a public forum for audiences where they can
freely express themselves when particular news stories occur and interact
with each other. (Sabao et al., 2017) At some point, citizen journalist content
still lacks its journalistic ethics and judgement on what is newsworthy or not.
As participants shared the advantages and disadvantages of citizen
journalism, they also believed that being critical and knowledgeable on how to
fact check news would develop the challenge of its content and reliability.

Discussion of Results

The results of the in-depth interview in the study provide essential and

relevant data to strengthen the theory used by the researchers. Jürgen

Habermas' Public Sphere theory proves that citizen journalist news content on

Facebook allows news consumers to engage in opinion sharing and examine

the credibility of online news stories in Facebook. The participants in the study

define the challenge of validity of news content that came from various

unverified accounts and manipulative news contents.

The researchers collected merged themes that implies the impact of citizen

journalist news content to selected participants and Facebook as a platform

for daily news consumption. In the first theme which is “News content

produced by citizen Journalist” participants enumerated the news type they

consumed online where majority are educational contents. In this theme, the

participants shared that they unconsciously consumed citizen journalist news

content online but they preferred news content came from professional media

practitioners. Based on participants’ answers, students encountered citizen

journalist news content when they are online and it is shared by another

Facebook user. However, news content conducted by citizen journalists has

the challenge to spread misleading information due to lack of professionalism

and knowledge in journalism. Regardless of age and gender, people may

acquire news content coming from ordinary citizens or citizen journalists who

disseminate information on Facebook. It also addresses that when people

consume news online, it is necessary to check on credible sources and read

the context of news to refrain from engaging in misleading information. Fact -

checking is indeed crucial in determining the credibility of a certain news

content online and to ensure news its validity.

In connection to this, the researchers developed the theme “Provide

enough sources from trustworthy media organizations”. This theme explains

the importance of trusting legitimate media news outlets who have enough

expertise on the process of news gathering and providing factual evidence.

For the news consumer, whether scrolling or just passing by a certain news

post and information it must reiterate that some of it contains misleading

information and various accounts of trolls who spread fake news.

To news consumers, it is essential to check where citizen journalist

sources came from before sharing it online or at least provide quotation or

original context of news. Facebook as an avenue of news and information

must be a channel for citizen journalists to share accurate news and

information that is beneficial to an informed public sphere and community.

 Furthermore, to the citizen journalist who produced online news contents

whether on Facebook or other platforms. It must be highlighted the

importance of verifying news sources and understanding the context of news

before posting or sharing it online to strengthen the credibility of news.

Moreover, fact-checking is vital to accurately check the credibility of news

and information online. News consumers as well must be alert and critical in

analyzing news stories. Through this approach, news consumption will be

more organized and will help to deepen readers' understanding of certain

news and events.

 CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

The study reveals that participants have experienced many types of

citizen journalism on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. The
respondent's understanding of how citizen journalism works shows the
consequences of consuming news information from sources other than
professional journalists, as well as how it affects the credibility of news stories
created by journalists.

Most people, particularly first-year journalism students, will learn from

this that even if articles produced by citizen journalists circulating on
Facebook received a large number of likes, comments, and shares, they
would still affect and mislead consumers because the sources were not
verified by professional journalists or media organizations.

Furthermore, first-year journalism students who lack a broad

understanding of how to fact-check sources will most likely consume
unverified news articles, which will have a direct impact on the credibility of
online news stories because they are unable to distinguish which is produced
by professional journalists.

In addition, despite the ongoing discussion about whether sources and

producers of news information on Facebook are more dependable and
reliable, the study suggests that it is safer to direct and go straight to stories
created by professional journalists and outside the Facebook network as
much as possible.

Finally, the study conducted by the researchers reveals that citizen

journalism has always been a threat to journalists and their material, as online
news content produced by professional journalists adhered to an ethical
standard in its creation, as opposed to content produced by citizen journalists.
Citizen journalism frequently misleads consumers and creates confusion
about which content to consume; as a result, the credibility and
trustworthiness of online news content produced by professional journalists is
affected.

Recommendations

This study suggests that journalism students and news consumers

should be cautious about the sources they consume and rely on social media
platforms, particularly Facebook. Journalism students and the general public
must recognize that social media is not always dependable when it comes to
news information, thus they must broaden their knowledge and enhance their
fact-checking skills to avoid becoming victims of "fake news" or misleading
information. For the future researchers who will be using this study for
replication, the researchers suggest that they should: first, increase the
number of respondents, not limited to journalism students but also ordinary
citizens who frequently consume online news articles. Second, extend the
locality of the research study and third, to use a mixed method in order to get
better results and in order to strengthen the whole study.
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TRANSCRIPTION OF IN - DEPTH INTERVIEW

Transcription of interview with student 1

Interviewer: Good afternoon again! We are the researchers from ABJ-4. For
our first question, what news - related content do you consume on Facebook
o ano yung mga balitang kinokonsumo mo sa Facebook?

Student 1: Usually po mga education and health contents.

Interviewer: Alright, educational and health content. Pero nakakapag browse

ka din ng mga news, current events?

Student 1: Yes po

Interviewer: Alright, for second question naman, how can you say that the
news - related content produced by citizen journalist or ordinary citizen in
Facebook is credible or sa tingin mo paano mo masasabi na ang mga
balitang prino - produced ng isang citizen journalist o ordinaryong
mamamayan ay kapanipaniwala?

Student 1: I think po kapag nagbigay sila ng enough evidence and information

na mag ja - justify nung news na shinare nila.

Interviewer: Ayan, alright for follow - up question lang, sa tingin mo may

epekto ba yung citizen journalism sa Facebook?
Student 1: Siguro po para sa akin po, may advantage and disadvantage din
po. Yung advantage po siguro is nakakapag sharesila ng mga news sa atin
katulad ng mga local activities po ganun, and yung disadvantage po is hindi
naman po tayo sure doon sa mga news na binabalita nila if credible since
hindi po sila well - trained or professional journalist.

Interviewer: Alright, Thank you for that and next question, question number
three. What is the importance of news credibility o ano ang kahalagahan na
ang isang balita ay kapanipaniwala?

Student 1: Sa akin po, it builds a reputation and trust from the audience. So
kumbaga po yung news po dapat is credible since marami din pong nanonood
or nakakakita ng balita na shineshare.

Interviewer: So para sa iyo kumbaga pag credible siya, dapat na siyang

paniwalaan agad?

Student 1: Opo

Interviewer: Alright, ayun so next question naman. What is your perception

towards the news - related content published by citizen journalist on
Facebook o ano yung perception mo sa mga balitang pina-published ng isang
citizen journalist?

Student 1: Katulad po din nung sabi ko kanina syempre po may advantage

and disadvantages . Pero syempre po diba as a citizen din po parang ang
tingin po natin kapag nagbabasa or nanonood tayo ng balita mas naniniwala
po tayo doon sa mga professional journalist since alam po natin na mas
credible yung news na shineshare nila.

Interviewer: Alright, thank you for that, Mayroon bang positibo at negatibong
epekto sa iyo ang citizen journalism sa pagkonsumo mo ng balita?

Student 1: yes po, since katulad ko po na laging nasa social media, marami
pong nag shi-share ng mga balita lalo na po sa facebook eh hindi ko rin
naman po sure kung credible yung mga news na shineshare nila eh minsan
po kasi diba mas mabilis tayong maniwala.
Interviewer: Thank you and for the fifth question. As a consumer of news and
information. What do you think is the impact of news - related content
published by citizen journalist to the credibility of online news stories. O bilang
konsyumer ng balita at impormasyon, ano sa palagay mo ang epekto ng mga
balitang pinublished ng isang citizen journalist sa kredibilidad ng isang online
na balita?

Student 1: I think for me po, there will be a doubt kasi po we are not really
sure if the information or message that they are giving to us are real or not.

Interviewer: Ayun nga para sa’yo mahalaga na kailangan ba credible yung

mga balitang binabasa o tinitingnan natin?

Student 1: Yes, importante rin po na credible since pwede po natin ma share

sa iba yung mga balitang nababasa or napapanood natin hindi naman po
natin alam if totoo siya or hindi.

Interviewer: Alright, so this is for ano na follow - up question to wrap - up na

din. Sa paglaganap ng citizen journalism sa ating komunidad, bilang isang
journalism student naman, anong mga hakbang ang sa tingin mo ay maaari
nating gawin upang mapanatili na credible ang balitang iyong pinopost o
shineshare online at upang labanan ang fake news?

Student 1: I think po dapat mag cite tayo ng mga reliable source yung mga
evidence po para din po ma-sure natin yung mga balita na I sheshare natin is
totoo.

Student 1: At tsaka po para din po maiwasan ang fake news much better po
pag nakabasa tayo ng mga balita, mag search din po tayo ng sarili natin para
malaman natin if totoo ba siya or hindi.

Interviewer: So para sa iyo, importante ba ang fact - checking?

Student 1: Opo

Transcription of interview with student 2

Interviewer: Good Afternoon Lawrence! We are researchers from ABJ-4.
Okay, Let’s start. First question, what news related content do you consume
on facebook?

Student 2: Actually hindi po ako masyado to politics, pero latest news po

about artista na lumalabas sa newsfeed.

Interviewer: How can you say that the news related content produced by
citizen journalists is credible?

Student 2: Actually ang first ko pong kino-consider dyan ay ang source po,
kung saan nagmula ang mga news na yan at kapag alam ko pong ang mga
balita ay galing sa highly expertise people po, doon po ako nagre- relay.

Interviewer: Sa iyong palagay ano ang epekto ng citizen journalism sa

Facebook?

Student 2: Personally po yung main effect po sa akin is parang naging

inclined akong sumali sa issue kong baga sa bandwagon part ka ng trend
kaya nagi-ignite din po ang issue na yon.

Interviewer: In general ano ang epekto ng citizen journalism sa facebook?

Student 2: Sa Facebook natin is parang nabobroaden yung knowledge nong

audience o yung mga nakakakita ng ma news article po.

Interviewer: What is the importance of news credibility?

Student 2: Ang kahalagahan po is I guess is possible impact po non ay

madaling makakahanap ng solusyon sa isang bagay kung baga yung process
is mapapadali para di ka na nag-iisip ng kung ano-anong bagay.

Interviewer: Pero para sayo credible ba ang pinapublish nila?

Student 2: Opo

Interviewer: What is your perception towards news related content published

by citizen journalists?
Student 2: As an aspiring public license journalist parang through them I was
able to redeem myself to have confidence or such passion and need to apply
bilang journalist.

Interviewer: Kumbaga more on qualities ang nai-adopt mo pag naririnig mo

yung salitang citizen journalist.

Student 2: Big influence din po sila sa akin, considering my course ko ngayon,

I mean program rather.

Interviewer: Mayroon bang positibo o negatibong epekto sayo ang

pagkonsumo ng balita?

Student 2: Sa pagkonsumo ko po ng balita, big effect niya po is tulad nga po

ng sabi ko kanina na magkaroon tayo ng information pero hindi mo pa rin
mako-konsider iyon kong valid or invalid yung information.

Student 2: Yung negative naman po is parang yung ibang journalist is hindi

nagtutugma ang opinyon ko sa iba. We are entitled with our opinion.

Interviewer: In a positive way ano ang epekto ng citizen journalism?

Student 2: For me kapag na-influence ka ng mga citizen journalist para

magkaroon ka ng urge para improve yung quality na nagla-lack sayo na
magrereflect sayo na maiapply sa sarili mo para maconsider ka rin as a
journalist.

Interviewer: As a consumer of news and information. What do you think is the

impact of news related content published by citizen journalists to credibility?

Student 2: If we are going to talk about the credibility of news, na pina-publish

is good siya. Magiging able na mag-improve or reflect ka sa balitang
makukuha mo.

Interviewer: For you mahalaga ba na maconsider ang credibility ng balita

bago ipost?
Student 2: Opo, Credibility matters po talaga iyon po dapat talaga ang
iconsider natin.

Interviewer: Sa paglaganap ng mga citizen journalists sa ating komunidad

bilang future journalist, ano ang mga hakbang para mapigilan ang paglaganap
ng fake news?

Student 2: For me po have enough research talaga, kung yung balita na kino-
consider dapat marunong kang mag extent research or study. Wag
paniwalaan ang mga naririnig sa tabi-tabi.

Interviewer: Ang ibig mo bang sabihin ay dapat may mahalagang references

or sources para maging credible ang mga binabalita natin?

Student 2: Opo, much better din kong nawitness mo yung scenario na yon
tapos doon ka magka-craft ng information sa scenario na yon.

Interviewer: Thank you! Yon lang naman ang aming mga mga tanong. Kung
may tanong ka sa amin ay maaari mo rin kaming ireach out. Thank you!

Transcription of interview with student 3

Interviewer: Thank you again for this interview. We are researchers from ABJ-
4. For the first question, what news -related content do you consume on
facebook?

Student 3: Siguro po aside from Educational content, mga popular news or

about the world wide trend news po.

Interviewer: So active ka ng nagko-consume ng balita sa online?

Student 3: Yes po.

Interviewer: For question number 2, How can you say that news related
content produced by citizen journalism or ordinary citizens is credible?
Student 3: Para po sa akin siguro it was conducted by the public journalist or
public network and trusted na programs katulad ng 24 oras.

Interviewer: Para sayo paano mo masasabi na ang pinoproduce nila ay

kapani-paniwala? Meron ba dapat na tinitignan o binabasehan?

Student 3: Siguro po pag ano credible po siya tapos nabi-base sa article na

galing po sa public journalist at through reading din ng article.

Interviewer: Thank you for that, for next question naman. Sa iyong palagay
anong epekto ng citizen journalism sa Facebook?

Student. Sa tingin ko po malaki epekto kasi as a journalism student focus tayo

sa mga information na pinopost natin at mga misleading information minsan
naba-validate at nakocorrect natin kahit sa mismong facebook friend lang
natin.

Interviewer: Nabanggit mo dapat na nava-validate. Para sayo what is the

importance of news credibility?

Student 3: Para po sa akin is it tackles about the democracy and loyalty as a

Filipino citizen. Dapat aware po tayo sa nangyayari sa lipunang ginagalawan
natin at personal life. Without news credibility there’s an urge to spread fake
news and misleading information.

Interviewer: Para sayo ay mahalaga na credible ang balita na shi-nishare.

Para sayo anong yung perception mo sa mga balitang pinapublish ng citizen
journalist?

Student 3: Para po sa akin is to be aware of the government and additionally

po for fellow Filipinos it makes us act as one as a power of news.

Interviewer: Thank you for that. For next question may positibo o negatibong
epekto ang citizen journalist sa pag-konsumo ng balita?

Student 3: Para po sa akin may advantage at disadvantages.advantage po

mas namumulat po ako sa lipunang ating ginagalawan. Disadvantages
naman ay in terms of fake news at big news about government nag aalangan
pa po ako.

Interviewer: Bilang konsumer ng balita at information. Ano sa palagay mo ang

epekto ng mga balitang pinapublish ng citizen journalist sa credibility ng
online news.

Student 3: Sa panahon ngayon mas maraming kabataan ang namulat sa

paggamit ng technology. As aspiring journalist po news enlightens me and
makes me more knowledgeable about our politics. Yun nga sabi ko nga
kanina need pa rin ivalidate ang mga fake news and information.

Interviewer. Ok, for the last question. Sa paglaganap ng citizen journalist sa

ating komunidad bilang isang journalism student ano ang mga hakbang para
mapigilan ang paglaganap ng fake news?

Student 3: Siguro po more on reading article at dapat galing sa accredited

network na nag papunlish ng validated na balita.in accordance sa mga kilala
nating journalist na nagpupublish ng balita.

Interviewer: Thank you so much sa pagbabahagi ng iyong idea.

Transcription of Interview with student 4

Interviewer: Before we start may I have your consent to be recorded for

research purposes only. So, proceed with the first question, “what news-
related contents do you consume on Facebook? o anong mga balita ang
kino-konsumo mo sa facebook?

Student 4: I guess, since, ako po kasi po from my Facebook feed, I don’t

really consume all that (main) news type of related content but I guess the
most common po is that in government related content and news content and
the mainstream media from GMA, ABS-CBN and TV5 type of content po,
news content.
Interviewer: Alright, so parang in general, random na naco-consume mo is
current events like politics?

Student 4: Yes. Exactly po.

Interviewer: Okay, for next question naman, how can you say that a news-
related content produced by citizen journalist or ordinary citizen is credible? O
paano mo masasabi na ang mga balitang pino-produced ng isang citizen
journalist ay kapani-paniwala at totoo?

Student 4: Well, I guess, in my experience po kasi, my mother is actually let’s

say a tiktoker and from TikTok she often encounters many types of I guess
contemporary news, news written by citizen po basically citizen journalist po,
and for the most part I often am not really inclined in those types of content po
but once I see that type of news is covered by mainstream media halimbawa,
TV patrol and any type of mainstream media that is the only I guess I can
confirm na credible ang sources po. Though, it is true that citizen journalists
are away ahead when it comes to speed po, when it comes to delivering
content (news content) but again hindi po ako gaanong, pagdating po sa
credibility nila, the only way I can check their credibility is by waiting for the
government and mainstream media po.

Interviewer: Based on your answer, at the end of the day preferred mo ang
news content produced by media organizations?

Student 4: I guess, I can say that but then again I am not saying na Citizen
journalists are should not matter but I guess many type of I guess there are
many false information when it comes to internet and I know that we are all
aware of that but I just take an extreme cautions po when it comes to that but
then again I am not also saying that mainstream media is perfect as well, of
course they are also actually covered wrong article sometimes. I guess, it is
up to us to judge really if the content that we see from a small source or major
source such as mainstream media is actually credible po.

Interviewer: Thank you for that, for next question naman, sa iyong palagay
ano ang epekto ng citizen journalism sa Facebook?
Student 4: What is the effect of citizen journalism on facebook?

Interviewer: Yes, yes.

Student 4: I guess, it affects a lot to it, especially since not being generalized
but most users of Facebook are the older generation so I guess it can
definitely change a lot to their perspective po. For example, a news article
regarding the government like the government is like “this'' and “that,” it can
actually easily change the views of the olds, the older generation again not
generalizing or stereotyping or anything like that, I guess many people are
inclined to research more and would just often take the information at face
value ganoon [po]. So, it can definitely affect the news in Facebook [po]
widely especially to our older users [po].

Interviewer: Alright, thank you. So, parang malaki ang nagiging epekto niya in
general, hindi lang sa pag-consume ng balita ganun?

Student 4: Yes po.

Interviewer: So, kanina nabanggit na rin natin about sa credibility ng isang

balita, what is the importance of news credibility o ano ang kahalagahan na
ang balita ay credible?

Student 4: Well, of course, credibility, when it comes to news as we all know,

it has to be factual thus if for example, the credibility of the news is not verified
and spread through social media and again not a lot people are inclined to
research or take a time to confirm the news they read about. When publishing
news it is incredibly important that it is credible and news because the
credibility of the news can change the perspective of many people. It is
definitely needed to have a high responsibility as a journalist and citizen
journalist to be able to spread news that is valid and truthful because if not
many people often believe most likely believe the wrong thing so yun [po].

Interviewer: Thank you for that. For next question, what is your perception
towards the news - related content published by citizen journalists on
Facebook? O ano ang iyong perception sa mga balitang pina-publish ng isang
citizen journalist?

Student 4: I guess, when it comes to that kind of content, I will be honest I am

not that open to it but then again I guess if the premises are right, if the
circumstances are right and the evidences of the particular journalist citizen
have presented are correct I will give it some [fact], hindi naman po ako close-
minded to citizen journalism or journalist na content but of course I would like
more information. I guess if there are enough information presented of the
citizen journalist then I am more than happy to believe it and see it as a
credible source.

Interviewer: Alright. For next question, mayroon bang positibo at negatibong

epekto sa iyo and citizen journalism sa pagkonsumo ng balita?

Student 4: Yes, for me since I don’t really consume that much content of
citizen journalist though some have been helpful to me since faster nga po
mas mabilis sila makapag padala ng information and there are hidden gems
nga po na actually informative so it matters little to me, it has not really given
me much impact in viewing other types of news po.

Interviewer: Thank you, Next question, as a consumer of news and

information, what do you think is the impact of news-related content published
by citizen journalist to the credibility of online news stories? O bilang
konsyumer ng balita at impormasyon , ano sa palagay mo ang epekto ng mga
balitang pinublished ng isang citizen journalist sa kredibilidad ng isang online
na balita?

Student 4: Well, I guess it can give a lot of perspectives regarding the news
for example the mainstream media may take the side while the citizen
journalist may take the other side so it can give a lot of perspective po.
Possible for the mainstream media may seen as villain, sa citizen journalist it
can be the hero, so it can give a lot of different perspectives.
Transcription of Interview with student 5

Interviewer: Good afternoon ! We are the researchers from ABJ-4, for our first
question what news related content, do you consume on facebook?

Student 5: To be honest kase po I rarely scroll po on facebook, Pero po I'll let

the algorithm decide for me, Patungkol naman po sa news related content po
na naconsume ko but mostly foreign news po ang lumabas sa news feed ko,
Pero in terms of topics about the news hindi po ako mismo sa facebook
kumukuha ng mga information kase po , Ano kase po laganap na po yung
fake news doon , minsan sa reddit na po ako pumupunta for discussion about
doon sa gusto kong topic.

Interviewer: Alright, kung baga parang kung ano lang yung minsan kung ano
lang makita mo sa news feed mo , ayan sinabi mo kanina ay more on
international or foreign news yung lumalabas ayung mostly yung naku-
consume mo.

Student 5: Yes po!

Interviewer: Alright so for next question naman, How can you say the news
related news content that is created by citizen journalists or ordinary people is
credible?

Student 5: Kung isa ka pong critical thinking na tao, magka-conduct ka po ng

background checking about sa author ng article, kung yung tao po na iyon ay
may experience or may degree regarding sa mass-communication it
believable and credible .

Interviewer: As a consumer of information is mas better ba na may functual na

pinanggagalingan ng credible sources ang isang information?

Student 5: Opo mas ok po sakin yung may sources, kase doon po talaga na
nag-cecement kung credible ba talaga yung article na prinoduce nong citizen
journalist,
Interviewer: What citizen journalist lang yung author of the article, walang
background or degree sa journalism profession is it credible parin ba ?

Student 5: Kung about sa economy yung topic is yung tao po na iyon is may
background sa economic studies doon po natin ma-cecement na credible po.

Interviewer: In your perception,What is the effect of citizen journalism on

facebook?

Student 5: Sa tingin ko po nakaka - increase po siya ng percentage po ng

fake news na lumalaganap po, yung karaniwan na victim po dito is yung mga
elderly na hindi masyado well-versed sa internet language, kasi po hindi po
nila na background check po ang mga authors po nung post po o article po,
kase po hindi po sila kasanay po sa social media po.

Interviewer: For the next question, What is the importance of news credibility?

Student 5: Yung news po kasi is nagsisilbing tulay sa pagitan ng tao , society

at authority isipin po natin is yung news na hindi nilabas ay hindi credible....
magke-create po siya ng unstable connection between those three po
(people, society, authority) kaya magkakaroon po ng conflict po.

Interviewer: For the next question, What is your perception towards the news
related content published by a citizen journalist on Facebook?

Student 5: Nakadepende naman siguro sa agenda nila, kung ang agenda

naman po ng citizen journalist po is to inform to educate people and stuff , I'm
done for it po. kung ang article o yung mismong post po na pinablished po nila
ay meant to attack a person or create a propaganda, I’m a big for it po.

Interviewer: Is there a positive and negative effect of the citizen journalist on

you consuming news?

Student 5: Positive impact po sakin is, yung journalist po nag- release po is

informative and background naman po sa sinasabi niya, then it will have a
positive impact po sakin kase nakakadagdag ng knowledge and information.
kung yung article na ni-release ay nagco-contain ng fake news nagi- guilty po
ako para sa iba na hindi alam kung paano mag-background check kung yung
information na na-consume po nila is tama..

Interviewer: As a consumer of news and information , What do you think is the

impact of news related content published by citizen journalists to the credibility
of the news stories?

Student 5: Dito po masusukat iyong pagiging critical thinking ng isang tao

kase , sa social media po kasi is na de-deceive po tayo kasi hindi po natin
alam kung ano ang totoo , alin po yung hindi, katulad po ngayon na uso na po
ang AI(Artificial intelligence) mas mahihirapan po tayo distinguish yung kung
ano yung fact or fake .

Transcription of Interview with student 6

Interviewer: Good morning, we are the researchers from ABJ-4 and, thank
you for lending your time with this interview. So, ready ka na ba?

Student 6: Opo.

Interviewer: Okay, For our first question, what news - related content do you
consume on Facebook? O ano yung mga balitang kinokonsumo mo sa
Facebook?

Student 6: Ano po more on political and social na balita.

Interviewer: Pero nag co-consume ka din naman ng mga current events or

mga napapanahong isyu natin ngayon?

Student 6: Opo.

Interviewer: So for next question naman, How can you say the news related
news content that created by citizen journalist or ordinary people is credible o
paano mo masasabi na yung mga balitang prino-produced ng isang citizen
journalist o ordinaryong mamamayan ay kapanipaniwala?

Student 6: Sa mga balita po, tinitingnan ko talaga kapag mayroong quotation,

turo din po kasi sa amin sa campus journalism na mahalaga yung quotation
kasi nagbibigay or nagdadagdag siya ng credibility sa isang balita. At tsaka
kapag may source siya na totoo.

Interviewer: Okay, para sayo mahalaga na mayroong references or sources

na nilalagay para paniwalaan mo kung legit ba yung isang balita?

Student 6: Yes po, absolutely.

Interviewer: Alright, for next question naman.What is the importance of news

credibility? O ano ang kahalagahan na ang isang balita ay kapanipaniwala or
credible para sa iyo?

Student 6: Ano, mahalaga ito kasi para hindi magkaroon misinformation,

misunderstanding, or marami kasi sa tao ngayon na parang kung ano lang
yung nabasa nila yun lang yung paniniwalaan nila kaya mahalaga talaga yung
dapat dine-disseminate na information through online is fact. Mas mapapadali
ang pag-disseminate ng information [citizen journalism] sa mga tao kasi ang
tao po ngayon is mas tutok na sila more on social media kumpara noon dati
na nanonood pa ng tv or nakikinig ng radio. Sa tingin ko, mas nagiging
maganda yung ginagawa nila kasi ginamit nila yung Facebook nila bilang
isang platform, para magbigay ng information sa mas malawak or mas
maraming tao

Interviewer: Okay. So kailangan based on legit sources?

Student 6: Opo.

Interviewer: Sige, so for next question naman.What is your perception

towards the news - related content published by citizen journalists on
Facebook? O Ano ang iyong perception mo sa mga balitang pina-published
ng isang citizen journalist?
Student 6: Katulad din po ng sinabi ko kanina, maganda siya for us na
marami na ngayon ang gumagamit ng facebook or social media maraming
tutok sa social media at maganda na ginagamit ito bilang platform para
magbigay ng paltform ng mga importanteng news na mas malawak. May
positibo at negatibong epekto yung citizen journalism sa akin, yung positive
effect po nagiging informed po ako sa mga pangyayari sa loob o labas ng
bansa tsaka po natutulungan din po ako bilang journalism student,
nakakatulong din siya sa pag - aaral ko na dapat aware ako sa nangyayari.
Ang negative naman po niya, is yung iba pong balita doon sa social media is
hindi po agad mapagkakatiwalaan kasi po hindi naman po ganun ka -reliable.

Interviewer: As a consumer of news and information, what do you think is As

a consumer of news and information, what do you think is the impact of news
related content published by citizen journalists to the credibility of online news
stories? O Bilang konsyumer ng balita at impormasyon, ano sa palagay mo
ang epekto ng mga balitang pinublished ng isang citizen journalist sa
kredibilidad ng isang online na balita?

Student 6: It highlights yung importansya ng pagbibigay at mahahalaga, at

totoong mga balita ng society at tsaka it inform us. Bilang isang journalism
student, I-fact check or tingnan yung content kung tama yung information na
naibibigay dahil kapag mali yung balita walang taong maniniwala.

Interviewer: Follow - up question lang, sa iyong palagay saan ka mas

comfortable magconsume ng news and information sa professional journalist
o citizen journalist?

Student 6: Doon na tayo sa mga professional journalist, kasi po na trained na

sila at alam na nila kung paano mag create ng tamang mga news at alam nila
kung paano yung pagsulat ng balita. Kasi po pag ordinaryong gumagamit lang
ng social media, kung ano lang po yung nakikita nila yun lang po yung pipiliin
nilang information unlike po sa mga professional journalist na naibibigay po
nila yung iba’t - ibang perspective at masasabi po nating totoo yung mga
ibinabalita nila.
Transcription of Interview with Student 7

Interviewer: Hi! We are the researchers from ABJ-4! Thank you so much for
your time!
Student 7: Welcome po!
Interviewer: Do you have any idea about citizen journalism?
Student 7: For me, Citizen Journalism is when a normal or civilian person is
engaged in posting such news on social media platforms.
Interviewer: What news related contents do you consume on Facebook?
Student 7: Mostly in Facebook app. I mostly received news about politics,
featured articles about politicians or artists or the economy.
Interviewer: Hmmm.. good to hear that. For questions no. 2. How can you
say that the news related content published by citizen journalists is credible?
Student 7: When we say credible citizen journalist, I think magre-relay sya sa
kung paano na construct yung balita, yung accuracy ng bawat details na
inilagay doon sa mismong post ng citizen journalist and tignan din if it is
disseminated by general information or just yo inform to expand hate or
political agenda.
Interviewer: For follow up, what is the effect of citizen journalism on
Facebook?
Student 7: Itong Citizen journalist hindi sila a accredited they are not holding
any jobs related to journalism but he can spread news, parang madali lang
yung information sa kanila.
Interviewer: Third question, What is the importance of news credibility?
Student 7: Pagpapahalaga sa balita, It is also pagpapahalaga ng buhay ng
makakatanggap o involve don sa balita. It is not just about spreading
information but also giving the details accurately for the sake of of the safety
of somebody na gumagawa ng balita, involve sa balita at doon sa mga
nakakakita ng balita.
Interviewer: Let’s proceed to no. 4 questions. What is your perception about
the news article published by citizen journalists on Facebook?
Student 7: Kung titignan sa algorithm ng Facebook, yung algorithm nya is
hindi ng balita o makakakita ng balita ay hindi kayang itama or agenda,
opinionated or nagre-relay just to take general information. Ang perception ko
po ay either merong side na kinakailangan maengage natin ang isa’t-isa
incase na makakita ng fake news aa isang netizens and need siyang idebunk.
Good thing din naman na may ilang citizen journalist na they spread good
vibes like positive perception in certain situations and that’s are good thing.
Interviewer: Base sa sagot mo may positive effect ang mga balitang
inilalabas ng mga citizen journalist sa facebook, tama ba?
Student 7: Yes po!
Interviewer: Okay, Let’s proceed to no. 5. As a consumer of news and
information. What do you think is the impact of citizen journalism on the
credibility of online stories?
Student 7: Although hindi sya.. hindi lahat ng citizen journalism news article,
blogs post ay nade-debunk parang nagkakaroon ng disconnection ng isa o
higit na follower para magkaroon ng confusion mula sa natanggap nya na
news. Sa ganoong pangyayari magkakaroon ng masyadong blind obedient or
masyadong epichamber na kung ano yung una niyang nasagap na balita ay
yon at yon ang paniniwalaan nya kasi doon tumutugma ang principles nya o
pagtingin nya sa balita lalo na sa politika and by that mas accredited sa
scientific journalism.
Magkakaroon sya ng questioning, or mas mararamdaman na bias. Like bakit
tumutugma sa akin meron naman akong nabasa pero hindi ganto.
Magkakaroon ng confusion lalo na sa pagpapatakbo ng Facebook. Paano
pinipervieve ng mga netizen ang nababasa nilang balita.
Interviewer:I like the wordings. Anyway, without being said. With the spread of
citizen journalism. As a journalism student what are the steps that the news is
credible and fight fake news?
Student 7: We must think or exclude our emotions. We have to like think, see
this news kung ano man ang pinag-ugatan ng mga balitang iyon kung paano
siya naging totoo o dapat paniwalaan. Dapat i-exclude natin yung paniniwala
natin at like exclude yung irationality sa mga bagay na nababalitaan natin. By
that tignan din natin yung sakop knowledge natin. As a journalism student
hindi lang dapat tayo gumagawa o lumilikha ng balita. As we engage , we
expound our opinion, our knowledge about social issues and about everything
happen in current events or situations in this country.
Hindi rin dapat tignan yung bawat balita na as something na lumilipas. Sa
bawat balita na natatanggap natin it is part of history. Interconnected yung
mga bawat balita. Mula sa pinagmulan ng balita at hanggang sa kung paano
sya nakakaapekto sa bawat buhay ng tao.
Interviewer. Wow! Nakikita ko na isa kang mahusay na mamamahayag in the
future. Thank you so much!

Transcription of Interview with student 8

Interviewer: What related news content you consume on Facebook?

Student 8: Yung mga post ng gma news, yung nag-taas na naman yung
presyo ng gas.
Interviewer: How can you say that the news related content producedd by a
citizen journalist or ordinary citizen on facebook is credible ?
Student 8: Kapag nakita ko na po siya sa isang gma news page.
Interviewer: In your perception, what is the effect of citizen journalism on
facebook?
Student 8 : Katulad po ng sinabi niyo hindi nga po sila nag-aral ng pag-share
ng balita, makakahawa sila, magkakalat sila ng maling balita .
Interviewer: What is the importance of the news credibility ?
Student 8: Sobrang mahalaga yung credibility ng isang balita, lalo kapag
whether forecast, pag-alam mo credible yung balita , kunware magiging sunny
day ngayon lalabas kunwari like picnic nadoon yung pag-trust natin sa balita
na credible.
interviewer: What is you perception in news related content published by a
citizen journalist on facebook?
oStudent 8: Of course, hindi sya tama kadalasan or hindi siya mapang-
hahawakan.
Interviewer: Sa tingin mo meron bang positive and negative effect ang mga
citizen journalism sa pag-konsumo mo ng balita.
Student 8: Positive effect sakin ay na-popursue ako na mag-labas ng tamang
balita.
Interviewer: What about negative naman meron ba siya negative effect sayo?
Student 8: Oo, siyempre mag-aaral palang hindi pa naman ganon kalawak
yung alam ko bilang isang mag-aaral.
Interviewer: As the consumer of news and information , what do you think is
the impact of news related content published by a citizen journalist to the
credibility of online news stories ?
Student 8: Kadalasan nag-kokonsumo sila ng magulong balita, at nag-
hahanap sila ng tamang balita so kapag nakita nila yung balitang ito
naniniwala na sila.

Transcription of Interview with Student 9

Interviewer: What news related contents do you consume on Facebook? O
anong mga balita ang kinokonsumo mo sa Facebook?
Student 9: Usually po everyday news lang din yung tipong napapanood
straight from the television or nababasa from newspaper since available din
naman po siya online specifically in facebook doon ko na rin po siya nakikita
or nalalaman, so usually po about politics or social events po.
Interviewer: How can you say that news - related content produced by citizen
journalists or ordinary citizens on Facebook is credible? O Paano mo
masasabi na ang mga balitang prinoproduced ng isang citizen journalist o
ordinaryong mamamayan ay kapani-paniwala?
Student 9:First po syempre if it is fact up may credible source or hindi lang po
siya purely focus sa opinion ng nagsishare ng information and of course po it
doesn't end with that kailangan din po kung ano yung nacoconsume na
information pwede rin po gawin ang mag fact check for further check its
credibility po
Interviewer: For follow up, In your perception, what is the effect of citizen
journalism in Facebook? O Sa iyong palagay, ano ang epekto ng citizen sa
Facebook?
Student 9: For me po malaki iyong epekto nila sa mga consumers since
given na malaking platform po yung facebook when it comes sharing
information kaya very important po na as a consumer at hindi lang po basta
consumer but also as someone na nagsishare ng news or ng certain
information we have to constant to be reminded we use it po moderately and
responsible po.
Interviewer: What is the importance of news credibility? O Ano ang
kahalagahan na ang isang balita ay credible?
Student 9: For me po news credibility is very crucial kase ito nga po yung
nagsisilbing guide natin sa mga events na nangyayari hindi lang po sa
environment natin kundi din sa mundo po in general kung hindi po kasi
credible yung news mapupuno po ng confusion lahat ng tao since ang balita
nga po yung nagiging batayan ng lahat sa pag alam po ng mga recent issues
po.
Interviewer: What is your perception towards the news-related content
published by citizen journalists on Facebook? O Ano ang iyong perception sa
mga balitang pina-published ng isang citizen journalist?
Student 9: For me po I think so far po I observed it is being misused by some
people since facebook nga po kapag kilalang tao ka syempre malakas yung
hatak mo to influence other people to believe a certain news na wala namang
basehan most of the time so, although hindi naman po lahat but most
influential people.
Interviewer: This for additional question lang, pwede kaba mag bigay ng
citizen platform na ginagamit nila at ano naobserbahan mo sa platform nila?
Student 9: Usually po ano, diba po we have to differentiate the news and
commentary po so when we say news po kase it should always share it reality
po kapag commentary po kase usually influence na siya by our biased
opinions so yun po yung usually na observe ko sa citizen journalist kapag nag
si-share po sila ng information madalas po influence na po sila ng sarili nilang
opinion or biases po.
Interviewer: Follow up question, Mayroon bang positibo at negatibong epekto
sa iyo ang citizen journalism sa pagkonsumo mo ng balita?
Student 9: For me po meron po siyang negative and positive effects so first
positive kase through citizen journalism para aking kaalam po naco-cover po
nila yung mga news or information na usually hindi na nabibigyan ng
atensyon masyado ng traditional journalism like for example po kung may
nangyari sa isang maliit na community usually po hindi naman po siya
nacocover na kaya very big help po to have citizen journalist na pwedeng
kumuha or mag cover ng news na yun to share the information to other
people and negative naman po kase since kahit sila na nga lang po yung may
access ng certain tools for example kapag may camera kayo basically just
magmake ka ng video at ishare yun sa iba, what if kung yung shinare mo
video na yun is ano lang siya kumbaga yun lang yung kalahati noong story
paano yung hindi mo na-cover so yun kumbaga may certain tool ka pwedeng
pwede ka mag spread or pwede kang maging tool ikaw yung mag spread ng
fake news sa mga tao.
Interviewer: As a consumer of news and information, what do you think is the
impact of news related content published by citizen journalists to the credibility
of online news stories? O Bilang konsyumer ng balita at impormasyon, ano sa
palagay mo ang epekto ng mga balitang pinublished ng isang citizen journalist
sa kredibilidad ng isang online na balita?
Student 9: Again po para sakin po malaking epekto po siya pagdating sa ano
po yung dapat at hindi dapat paniwalaan since may mga citizen journalist nga
po na very creative po sila sa pag gagawa ng mga news po since yung
creativity po nila minsan nakakapukaw ng atensiyon yung way po nila of
spreading news minsan nga po nadi-disregard natin if its credible po ba or is it
already fiction na nagbabase sa reality kaya it's very important po for me to
have basic foundation which we have to be very vigilant we have to be
masigasig po tayo dapat mag engage po tayo sa mga news and information
po.
Interviewer: Follow - up question, with the spread of citizen journalism in our
community, as a journalism student, what steps do you think can be taken to
keep the news you post or share online credible and fight fake news? Sa
paglaganap ng citizen journalism sa ating komunidad, Bilang isang journalism
student, anong mga hakbang ang sa tingin mo'y maaaring gawin upang
mapanatili na credible ang mga balitang iyong pino-post o shineshare online
upang malabanan ang fake news?
Student 9: As a journalism student I'm always encourage to do fact checking
bago mag engage sa mga post and syempre po napaka importante na meron
tayo malalim na kaalaman sa isang bagay po bago tayo gumawa kilos and I
think po as a journalism student it is really our advantage since we are being
taught to always look for credibility at kapag maging complacent just because
feeling natin ah binigay na sa atin lahat ng information okay na to since we
are journalism student we’re always expecting to look for further information
na magpo-prove po na credible ang isang source and I think it's a great
opportunity to educate people as well by sharing knowledges para kahit sila
rin po maiwasan din pong mag spread and maniwala po sa mga fake news
po.

Transcription of interview with student 10

Interviewer: Good day! We are the researchers from ABJ-4 and ayon, thank
you for lending your time with this interview. So, for our first question, what
news - related content do you consume on Facebook? O ano yung mga
balitang kinokonsumo mo sa Facebook?

Student 10: As far ano po kasi, ano … hindi ako masyado sa Facebook more
on ibang apps po kasi ako nag-aano. Pero po ano, syempre yung news din sa
tv napupunta din sa mga internet diba? And it could be yung sa Israel-Hamas,
ganun.

Interviewer: Follow-up question lang. Pero ayon, nakakapag consume ka rin

ba ng mga balita sa Facebook. Like for example, nag brobrowse ka
nakakakita ka naman ba ng mga current events katulad nung nabanggit mo
sa Israel-Hamas war?

Student 10: Kapag ano po, nase-search po pero kapag nags-scroll iba po
yung nakikita ko and syempre po malalaman din po natin na about doon sa
Israel kasi we ano, mayroon naman tayong tv, ganun.

Interviewer: For number two question, How can you say the news related
news content that created by citizen journalist or ordinary citizen in Facebook
is credible? O Paano mo masasabi na yung mga balitang prino-produced ng
isang citizen journalist o ordinaryong mamamayan ay kapanipaniwala?

Student 10: Syempre as person din naman po, minsan nasusulat naman nila
na yung mga balita ay medyo tama doon. Kumbaga karamihan sa kanila yung
mga articles kung kanino pinanggalingan nung news ganun. Pero, karamihan
sa kanila, walang nakalagay kung saan nila nakita, basta nalang sila nagpo-
post kung ano klaseng news ito, ganun.
Interviewer: For follow-up question, sa iyong palagay, may effect ba yung
Citizen Journalism sa Facebook?

Student 10: Madami pong tao ang maniniwala, karamihan po dito ay yung
mga taong walang knowledge or mga taong walang awareness sa paligid at
karamihan po dito ay yung mga batang gumagamit din po ng Facebook pati
nga po sa mga matatanda madali silang mapaniwala.

Interviewer: Pero kung ikaw, ano yung sa tingin mong direct effect nito sa
iyo?

Student 10: Ano po siya, fifty-fifty kasi it could be dahil doon magkakaroon ka
ng knowledge or magkakaroon ka ng awareness. Pero kumbaga di mo alam
kung tama yung pinapamalita nila ganun. Kumbaga, yun nga nagbibigay siya
ng impormasyon na nagkakaroon ka ng awareness, pero ito bang awareness
mo or information ay tama.

Interviewer: So it depends, kung yung sources or the content itself is parang

provided by profesiional journalist or media organization?

Student 10: katulad din po nung kay Mike Enriquez, nakita ko din po yung sa
Facebook syempre sikat po yun na reporter. Tapos ang nakalagay doon,
patay na daw si ano … Mike Enriquez, syempre ano as a person magugulat
ka, idol mo ‘to eh. Kumabaga di mo alam kung maniniwala ka ba or hindi. Ang
ginawa ko na lamang ay maghintay kung ano yung sasabihin ng GMA
hanggang sa kung ano yun i-announce nila.

Interviewer: So most of the time, naghihintay ka talaga sa mga media

netwoks hindi ka agad naniniwala sa mga content ng Citizen journalist,
naghihintay ka agad ng back up sa mga media organizations like GMA?

Student 10: Yes po.

Interviewer: So for nest question, What is the importance of news credibility o

ano yung kahalagahan ang isang balita ay kapanipaniwala?
Student 10: Syempre mahalaga po yung ano balita or news na
kapanipaniwala kasi magkakaroon ng issue yung balita kapag hindi totoo, it
could be madaming tao ang let’s just say … hindi na maniniwala sa mga news
kasi nga mahalaga na ang isang balita ay credible. Kasi nga kapag hindi
kapanipaniwala yung news mo tapos madaming tao yung naniwala sa news
mo kumbaga, tapos bigla-bigla nalang may lalabas na isang article na hindi
totoo, eh di marami ng taong di maniniwala sa iyo, Kailangan ng sources kung
saan nga ba yung pinanggalingan nito pati needed po ng sources like
interview.

Interviewer: Next question, what is your perception towards the news -

related content published by citizen journalists on Facebook? O Ano ang
iyong perception mo sa balitang pina-published ng mga citizen journalist sa
Facebook?

Student 10: Syempre hindi po ako naniniwala kasi it could be rumor,

maganda po kasi na diretso balita na.

Interviewer: Sa tingin mo ba, mayrrong positibo at negatibong epekto sa iyo

ang citizen journalism sa pagkonsumo mo ng balita?

Student 10: Mayroon po, syempre nakakatulong din po sa atin yung citizen
journalism kumbaga ito bang nalaman mo kasi minsan hindi na kapani-
paniwala yung post nila kasi maraming issue ang lumalabas na hindi naman
makatotohanan.

Interviewer: For the fifth question, as a consumer of news and information,

What do think is the impact of news related content published by citizen
journalist to the credibility on the news stories?

Student 10: Katulad nga po kanina ng aking kasagutan, mayroon po siyang

epekto example po nito yung aking mama, syempre yung matatanda sa atin
ay mahilig mag facebook. Karamihan sa kanila may mga nababasang mga
news na karamihan doon ay hindi makatotohanan at katulad po nito na
biglang nagtanong sa akin si mama kung totoo nga po yung ganyan o ganto
syempre as a student kumbaga, kapag citizen journalist yung nagbabalita ay
marami pong agad naniniwala. Ang epekto po ng citizen journalism sa atin ay
mayroon siyang postitbo at negatibo nga. Nakakatulong din sa atin ang citizen
journalism kasi karamihan nga sa atin ay hindi na nanonood ng balita sa tv at
more on internet sila so karamihan sa mga tao eh di maniniwala sa pinahayag
nilang balita at karamihan nga doon ay hindi makatotohanan kumbaga
maraming tao ang maniniwala, ganun. Kailangan yung mga balita ay
mangagaling sa mga professional journalist katulad galing sa TV Patrol, GMA,
sila dapat yung unang magbabalita sa atin kasi kung ikaw lang yung
nakakaalam walang nakalagay na evidence or walang sources syempre
madaming tao hindi maniniwala sa iyo at kapag lumabas na fake news yun ay
pwede itong maging rumor.