@article{2019:radechovsky:nothing,
title = {Nothing’s gonna change my world – Or do journalistic clarifications help against rumors?},
year = {2019},
note = {In the current digitalized media landscape, communicators and
recipients are struggling to produce and identify reliable information
in order to cope with rumors, misconceptions, and fake news. In the
face of this, the popularity and relevance of factchecking services
have increased in recent years. Nevertheless, not much is known about
the effectiveness of these journalistic entities. This study proposes
a theoretical framework that systemizes possible influencing factors.
An online survey of 607 German media users was conducted, measuring
the effectiveness of several clarifications in adjusting recipients’
misperceptions about six current controversial issues in Germany. The
results indicate that journalistic clarifications are in fact capable
of causing an adjustment process. Regression analyses show that,
contrary to expectations, the users’ attitudes that go against the
message of the clarification had only a small effect on the adjustment
process. Media reliance had positive effects on only one issue, as
well, and cognitive mobilization on two issues. A positive evaluation
of the quality of the clarification showed effects in four cases, but
not always as expected. Evaluations of the credibility of the
communicator delivered no effects.},
journal = {SCM Studies in Communication and Media},
pages = {497--522},
author = {Radechovsky, Johanna and Berger, Priscila and Wolling, Jens},
volume = {8},
number = {4}
}