Sources of information, credibility, and advertising: Perspectives for the development of regional communication

Abstract

In this research article, sources of information on the daily life of the inhabitants of Blumenau (Santa Catarina, Brazil) and their credibility were analyzed. Through an explorative and descriptive analysis with a quantitative approach, the survey-based study focused on identifying the most frequently used information sources and analyzing the credibility of the communication media and the most frequently used vehicles by information recipients, that is, those that search for content in sources of information. The research proved that the Internet and conventional communication media (tv, radio, and newspapers) are the primary sources of information for topics related to daily life among the people in Blumenau, and at the same time, they have greater credibility. Such results provide hints regarding opportunities and perspectives for the development of regional advertising.