Credibility of online press: A strategy for distinction and audience generation

Abstract

The regular paper publications sector has implemented significant business model transformations to embrace digi-talization, with the press being the most affected of all. This has contributed not only to the migration of traditional mastheads to a digital format, in search of a hybridization process, but also to the development of new digital brands. In these circumstances, credibility emerges as a critical factor to consider when selecting sources of information. Along these lines and with regards to the online press, two research objectives arise: to analyze which factors can influence, and which factors are influenced by, the credibility of an online masthead. The methodology used in this study is based on quantitative research using surveys conducted with university students and structural equation modeling. The main conclusions demonstrate that coverage is the main variable in terms of generating credibility and that this also contribu-tes to reader perception regarding greater confidence, accuracy, and sympathy.