{"id":{"repo_id":"royalroads","oai_identifier":"oai:null:10613/28158"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/royalroads/oai:null:10613/28158","repository":{"repo_id":"royalroads","name":"Royal Roads University","base_url":"https://www.viurrspace.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Shifting Trust: How Generation Z Canadians Determine Trust and Credibility in Online News and Information","abstract":"Amidst a declining global trust in news media, this research focuses on the unique media consumption habits and skepticism of this digitally native cohort in Canada. Utilizing semi-structured, qualitative, smart device, content elicitation interviews, the study provides insight into the thought processes, decision-making strategies, and judgements young people make when they come across news. This study reveals key factors influencing trust: first-hand accounts, proof and evidence, and journalistic rigor – and key factors influencing credibility: expertise, accountability, positionality, and transparency. Findings indicate that while Generation Z exhibits general skepticism towards mainstream and social media, they demonstrate a strong sense of civic responsibility to cross-check and verify information themselves. The analysis explains the impact of digital immersion on news consumption, highlights a shift from passive consumption to active interrogation of news, and paints a clearer picture of Canada’s declining trust dilemma. This research suggests strategies for mainstream, independent, and citizen journalism to foster trust, ensure credibility, and engage effectively with younger audiences.","abstract_html":"Amidst a declining global trust in news media, this research focuses on the unique media consumption habits and skepticism of this digitally native cohort in Canada. Utilizing semi-structured, qualitative, smart device, content elicitation interviews, the study provides insight into the thought processes, decision-making strategies, and judgements young people make when they come across news. This study reveals key factors influencing trust: first-hand accounts, proof and evidence, and journalistic rigor – and key factors influencing credibility: expertise, accountability, positionality, and transparency. Findings indicate that while Generation Z exhibits general skepticism towards mainstream and social media, they demonstrate a strong sense of civic responsibility to cross-check and verify information themselves. The analysis explains the impact of digital immersion on news consumption, highlights a shift from passive consumption to active interrogation of news, and paints a clearer picture of Canada’s declining trust dilemma. This research suggests strategies for mainstream, independent, and citizen journalism to foster trust, ensure credibility, and engage effectively with younger audiences.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Nanji-Kassam, Iman"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hodson, Jaigris"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024","date_published":"2024","updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:47:44Z","subjects":["School of communication and culture"],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19772"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19772","href":"https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19772","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10613/28158","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Hodson, Jaigris"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Nanji-Kassam, Iman"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2024-09-10T22:02:49Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-09-10T22:02:49Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2024"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["School of communication and culture"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10613/28158","https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19772"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["2024"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Amidst a declining global trust in news media, this research focuses on the unique media consumption habits and skepticism of this digitally native cohort in Canada. Utilizing semi-structured, qualitative, smart device, content elicitation interviews, the study provides insight into the thought processes, decision-making strategies, and judgements young people make when they come across news. This study reveals key factors influencing trust: first-hand accounts, proof and evidence, and journalistic rigor – and key factors influencing credibility: expertise, accountability, positionality, and transparency. Findings indicate that while Generation Z exhibits general skepticism towards mainstream and social media, they demonstrate a strong sense of civic responsibility to cross-check and verify information themselves. The analysis explains the impact of digital immersion on news consumption, highlights a shift from passive consumption to active interrogation of news, and paints a clearer picture of Canada’s declining trust dilemma. This research suggests strategies for mainstream, independent, and citizen journalism to foster trust, ensure credibility, and engage effectively with younger audiences."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Shifting Trust: How Generation Z Canadians Determine Trust and Credibility in Online News and Information"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hodson, Jaigris"],"dc:creator":["Nanji-Kassam, Iman"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2024-09-10T22:02:49Z"],"dc:date.available":["2024-09-10T22:02:49Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2024"],"dc:description":["2024"],"dc:description.abstract":["Amidst a declining global trust in news media, this research focuses on the unique media consumption habits and skepticism of this digitally native cohort in Canada. Utilizing semi-structured, qualitative, smart device, content elicitation interviews, the study provides insight into the thought processes, decision-making strategies, and judgements young people make when they come across news. This study reveals key factors influencing trust: first-hand accounts, proof and evidence, and journalistic rigor – and key factors influencing credibility: expertise, accountability, positionality, and transparency. Findings indicate that while Generation Z exhibits general skepticism towards mainstream and social media, they demonstrate a strong sense of civic responsibility to cross-check and verify information themselves. The analysis explains the impact of digital immersion on news consumption, highlights a shift from passive consumption to active interrogation of news, and paints a clearer picture of Canada’s declining trust dilemma. This research suggests strategies for mainstream, independent, and citizen journalism to foster trust, ensure credibility, and engage effectively with younger audiences."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10613/28158","https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19772"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:subject":["School of communication and culture"],"dc:title":["Shifting Trust: How Generation Z Canadians Determine Trust and Credibility in Online News and Information"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:47:44Z"}