The Jordanian Public's Reliance on the Jordanian Digital Journalism as a Source of Information during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Field Study

Khalaf Lafee  Alhammad; Reham Faisal  Alomari

doi:10.35516/hum.v50i4.5641

Authors

Khalaf Lafee Alhammad Department of public relations and advertising, Faculty of Mass Communication, Yarmouk University, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0145-4886
Reham Faisal Alomari Department of public relations and advertising, Faculty of Mass Communication, Yarmouk University, Jordan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v50i4.5641

Keywords:

Dependency, publics, digital journalism, information, COVID-19 crisis

Abstract

Objectives: The study identifies the degree of the Jordanian public's reliance on Jordanian Digital Journalism – originally printed press – such as Al Ghad, Al Ra'ai, and Ad-Dustour as a source of information during the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods: The study relied on the theory of media dependence, and used the field survey methodology using the questionnaire tool, which was applied to an available sample of (400) individuals from the Jordanian public.

Results: The study found that an estimated percentage of those who depend on Jordanian Digital Journalism as a source of information about Corona reached (79%), for a number of reasons, most significantly: the accessibility of browsing it at any time, (57.9%) of the sample also relied on it as a source of information about the pandemic for less than an hour a day, with Al Ghad and Al Ra’ai being the newspapers that the respondents depend on mostly. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that the most important cognitive effect is to draw the public’s attention to the dangers of the virus, especially for the elderly. Additionally, the most emotional effect resulting from this dependence is the growing concern about the lengthy total ban. Meanwhile, the behavioral effect is to form an enlightened attitude about the pandemic.

Conclusions: The study suggests that Jordanian digital journalism should enhance its role in promoting COVID-19 awareness and education among the public by launching campaigns to convey the virus's dangers, prevention, and safety measures effectively

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