Media credibility of 2019 Sri Lanka presidential election

Abstract

This study analyzes students‟ Media credibility of Sri Lanka presidential election 2019. To gain a fair assessment of students‟ perception of media credibility during afore-mentioned event, the study used a quantitative instrument and examined students‟ general trust in media plausibility (before the elections) and with the same approach investigated the students‟ perception of trust in media credibility during and after the elections. An online survey was conducted among students of University of Sri Jayewardenepura asking them to rate their perception of trust in Sri Lankan news media channels. A total of 100 students participated in the survey. Media channels listed in the questionnaire included newspapers, radio, national television news broadcast, online news media outlets and social media. Study had three objectives and those were, to study the media credibility during the Sri Lanka presidential election, to study the media credibility after the presidential l election and to study the student‟s perception of news media credibility during the election period. Research questions of this study were, would presidential election campaign bring about changes in the credibility perception of Sri Lankan news media channels? What way students‟ perception of news media credibility changes during the presidential election? And After the presidential elections, does the students‟ perception of news media credibility alter and in which direction? The findings showed that covering of presidential election campaign held in Sri Lanka, brought about permanent changes in students‟ perception of news media credibility