Media Ownership and How We Can Trust the News We Consume
In an increasingly digital world, it is very rare for Generation Z to associate with legacy/traditional media of any form, let alone rely on it to source the latest news. However, there are always exceptions.
In 2021, it became a ritual of mine to tune into the radio every afternoon on my way home from work. I don’t know whether it was the interesting content, the catchy opening tune or presenter Dave Marchese’s familiar voice, but I would always make sure that, at 5pm, I was listening to Triple J news.
I learnt a lot working as an Electorate Officer for Helen Dalton MP (Member for Murray) in my gap year, but undoubtedly one of the most important lessons was to always ensure the credibility of news sources. It was fairly often that I would receive phone calls from concerned constituents, enquiring with regards to something they had read on social media. Whilst many of the reports could be verified as real information, there were a few instances when rumours circulated around Facebook by disreputable users, and subsequently became ‘fact’ in the eyes of many.
I have made it a habit to always be conscious of the news I am consuming- anything I read on social media I take ‘with a grain of salt’. Whilst I am constantly exposed to news online (Facebook, Instagram and even TikTok), tuning into Triple J news has become my most trusted source to learn what was going on in Australia and the world.
Who Owns Triple J and Why Can I Trust It as a Reliable News Source?
Triple J is owned and operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which is the national broadcaster of Australia.
The ABC is funded by the Australian Government, and is described on the Australian Government Directory website as:
“…a national (publicly funded) broadcaster, providing news, current affairs and entertainment programming on television, radio and digital services across Australia. The ABC’s principal function is to provide content which informs, educates and entertains all Australians, contributes to a sense of national identity and reflects the cultural diversity of the Australian community.”
(Australian Government, 2017)
Why does this matter?
Personally, I find it reassuring that my understanding of current events is sourced from a Government-owned company, and I trust that the information being distributed is well-researched and factual.
According to research from 2018 by The Australia Institute, despite the increasingly accessible information available via social media, the ABC is still Australia’s most trusted source of news.
“In a time of growing concern about ‘fake news’ and the influence of social media this polling shows that Australians of all political stripes appreciate the importance of a dedicated public broadcaster”.
“Despite ongoing attacks on its content and funding, Australians continue to trust the ABC more than commercial or social news sources. Our research consistently and clearly shows that Australians support their ABC and want to see that reflected in its funding, as it continues to be the country’s most trusted broadcaster.”
Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute.
(The Australia Institute, 2018)
Additionally, data from the ABC’s Annual Report 2019-20 also shows that Australians have more trust in the news they receive from the ABC, than other sources.
“78% of Australian adults aged 18-75 years trust the information that the ABC provides: significantly higher than the levels of trust recorded for internet search engines such as Google (70%), Commercial Radio (60%), Commercial TV (59%), Newspaper publishers (58%) and Facebook (35%).”
(Australian Government, 2020)
From the perspective of a Gen Z living in an increasingly digitalised world, my main piece of advice is to always be mindful of the news you are consuming.
I am not saying that everything you read on Facebook is not true- I’m just saying that it is important to be aware of the source. With little oversight and the ability for disreputable users to post basically anything, an unmoderated Facebook environment has the capacity to easily spread misinformation.
By sourcing my news primarily from Triple J news, there is little doubt in my mind that the information I am consuming is trustworthy, reputable and factual.
Reference List
Triple J n.d., Triple J Logo, image, Triple J, viewed 2 April 2022, <https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/>.
Australian Broadcast Corporation n.d, What governs and guides us | About the ABC, viewed 1 April 2022, <https://about.abc.net.au/how-the-abc-is-run/what-guides-us/>.
Australian Government 2017, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Government, viewed 1 April 2022, <https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/infrastructure-transport-regional-development-and-communications/australian-broadcasting-corporation>.
The Australia Institute 2018, ABC still Australia’s most trusted news source, viewed 3 April 2022, <https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/abc-still-australias-most-trusted-news-source/>.
Australian Government 2020, Quality, distinctiveness and trust, Transparency Portal, viewed 1 April 2022, <https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-broadcasting-corporation/reporting-year/2019-20-59>.
Australian Government 2020, Measures of community satisfaction, Transparency Portal, viewed 1 April 2022, <https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-broadcasting-corporation/reporting-year/2019-20-13>.