The Quest for Credibility and Other Motives for News Consumption Among Ethnically Diverse Youths in Flanders

Abstract

This study investigated online and offline news consumption among Turkish (N = 539), Moroccan (N = 482) and Flemish (N = 753) youngsters between the ages of 12 and 19 as well as the motivations behind their news use. The potentially explanatory role of culture-specific and socio-demographic antecedents was examined. The results showed that news plays a more prominent role in Moroccan and Turkish youngsters' lives than in that of native Flemish youth. A striking finding was that Dutch television news is primarily looked at, particularly by the Moroccans, for its perceived credibility and for its function as a guide through the world. Flemish youngsters' most prevalent motives for news consumption on television are its intriguing content as well as the information it provides to talk about with peers and family members.

Keywords:

• credibility
• ethnic minorities
• Flanders
• motives
• news consumption
• youths

Notes

^1. The term ethnic minority is to be understood as persons of whom at least one of the parents is of Turkish or Moroccan descent or was born in Turkey or Morocco.

^2. Youngsters whose father and mother were born and bred in Flanders are here considered to be Flemish.

^3. Central questions/statements in our questionnaire were, among others: “Which of the following media listed do you use in your room/elsewhere in the home?”; “I watch television because I find it a credible source/because I find it interesting/because I'm bored, etc.”; “How do you consider yourself (in comparison with your peers) of issues related to education/politics/culture/religion/war and terror/laws on immigrants and minorities in Belgium/social regulation?”; “How often do you use the Internet?” followed by a set of options (to email with friends/family/to chat with friends/family/to consult news blogs/to search information on religion/to do homework, etc.).