Dissertation Synopsis:

Perception of credibility of television news presented

by news anchors

Degree Of Master’s In

Journalism And Mass Communication

Submitted By: Anuraag Krishna

(Roll No. :234/LJM/001)

Under the supervision of

Prof. Dr. Bandana Pandey

To the

DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
GAUTAM BUDDHA UNIVERSITY
 Table of content

 Introduction

 Background of the study

 Research Methodology

 Review of literature

 Objectives of the research

 Chapterization

 References
 Introduction

In India, a 24-hour television news sector began to emerge some 25 years ago, radically
altering the country's journalism landscape. The news programming transitioned from
straightforward news bulletins to dramatic news and current affairs programs with a lot of
special effects and "speed" became the foremost focus.

The growth of the 24x7 TV news industry is quite notable and the number of full time TV
news channels has reached near 500 during the last two and half decades. The channels are
now in fierce competition as a result of this enormous development. In this new situation,
how the news is presented is extremely significant, which has increased the importance of the
news anchors' job.

Let's start by defining the different types of journalists. A journalist might be an anchor, a
reporter, or a correspondent. There are many other jobs as well. The news is delivered by the
anchor who is seated in front of the cameras in the newsroom. The anchor sits in the news
studio, in front of the cameras and presents the news. The anchor gives the appearance to the
viewer of being the one who organizes the reports coming in from the journalists in the field.

The TV News anchors are regarded as one of the most reliable sources of authentic news. The
News anchors have become the faces of their news channels. TV news programs plays a
major role in determining audience psychological perception of reality and news is a good
technology for influencing people’s belief in our preferred manner. Most of the frequently
watch primetime news and debate shows (V, 2014) Primetime is the most valuable,
significant and precious time for the news channels in terms of viewership and its economics.
The document of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India
(GOI) reveals that every second television channel in India is a news channel (Broadcasting
Documents MIB, GOI, 2018). Having a population of over 1.37 billion (India
Population,2020) and around 197 million households with television sets. Television has a
great impact on people. It makes this research significant to study the content and credibility
of Indian TV news anchors.
 Background of the study

This study can be based on the Cultivation Theory. This theory suggests that exposure to
media over time can shape a viewer’s perception of reality. The theory was developed by
George Gerbner and colleagues in the mid-20th century and has been widely used in
communication and media studies.

The central premise of cultivation theory is that individuals who are exposed to media content
over long periods of time begin to develop a view of the world that is similar to the content
presented in the media. This is known as “cultivation,” and it can occur through the constant
exposure to certain themes, messages, and values that are prevalent in media content.

According to cultivation theory, heavy exposure to media content can lead to the
development of a “mean world syndrome,” where individuals believe that the world is a more
violent and dangerous place than it actually is. This is because media content often portrays
violence, crime, and other negative events as more common than they actually are in the real
world.

In the context of news anchors, this theory can help us understand how viewers perceive and
interpret the information presented by the news anchors, and how it influences their
perception of the world.

News anchors play an important role in cultivating viewers' perceptions of reality. They are
the face of the news and the primary source of information for many viewers. The way news
anchors present news stories, the language they use, and the tone of their delivery can
influence how viewers perceive events and issues.

For example, if news anchors consistently present news stories with a negative tone and focus
on crime and violence, viewers may develop a perception that the world is a dangerous and
threatening place. On the other hand, if news anchors present news stories with a positive
tone and focus on human interest stories and community events, viewers may develop a
perception that the world is a more positive and inclusive place.

Overall, the role of news anchors in cultivation theory is to shape viewers' perceptions of
reality through their selection, framing, and presentation of news stories. By understanding
the impact of news anchors on viewers, we can better understand the ways in which media
shapes our understanding of the world around us. Thus, this theory can be helpful to achieve
understanding on the Perceived credibility of television news presented by celebrity news
anchors.

Review Of Literature

News anchors are not just presenters of news but also act as gatekeepers and agenda-setters.
They have a significant role in selecting and framing news stories, deciding what information
to provide, and how to present it. Several studies have highlighted the importance of news
anchors in shaping public opinion and influencing political discourse. Many studies have
explored the gendered representation of news anchors in Indian media, indicating that the
industry is male-dominated, and women anchors are often subjected to sexual objectification
and stereotyping. Researchers have also investigated the role of news anchors in shaping
public opinion and have found that their presentation of news can influence the way the
audience perceives and responds to information.

The news anchors act as mediators between the news source and the audience, and their
presentation style and tone significantly influence public perception of news events. They are
often the first point of contact for news viewers, and their presentation of news can
significantly influence the way people perceive and react to events. (Bhatnagar and
Aggarwal, 2017)

The news anchors can shape public opinion through their language, body language, tone, and
nonverbal cues. (Ramakrishnan and Pillai, 2017)

News is not only a typical media commodity, especially in democracies, It is essential for
involving ordinary people in democratic processes. (Thussu ,2008)

Indian news anchors need to understand that freedom comes with obligations. They must
refrain from serving in these capacities. Their responsibilities as journalists are to investigate,
report, and inform. (Varma 2015)

Debates are beneficial for serious and in-depth journalism. The debate should be followed by
a significant news item. It aids in deepening viewers' awareness of a subject, however the
situation in Indian television news media is very different. On Indian television news studios,
shouting bouts and confusing debates about unimportant topics have grown rather regular.
(Singh 2016)
The role of news anchor has been broadened. They have become faces of the channels and
helping in securing viewership in times of cutthroat competition. (Rather , n.d.)

Several researchers and senior journalists have raised their worries on tabloidization of
mainstream television news media. Tabloidization also affects the news anchoring.
Tabloidization is the biggest threat for the Indian television news media. Tabloidization is the
death of good journalism (Roy,2015)

The various studies found that television news media is blindly running after the TRP. They
desperately need eyeballs because the number of eyeballs gives them ad revenue which is the
backbone of the financial model of these channels. “If the TV channel is guaranteeing
eyeballs for the committed outlays, advertisers will not shy away from the program” (p. 29).
(Kotvani ,2019)
 Objectives of the research

The objectives of this study are as follows:

 Broader Objective -
- To study the perception on credibility of television news presented by news
anchors.
 Focused Objective -
1. To understand the public opinion about the credibility of celebrity Television News
Anchors.
2. To evaluate the impact of external forces on the content of these celebrity anchors.
(As per public opinion)
3. To study about the lack of trust of people in content shown on Television news.
Research Methodology

To test our hypothesis, A survey questionnaire will be developed based on a review of the
literature on media credibility and previous studies on the topic, consisting quantitative
approach. The quantitative phase will involve a large-scale survey distributed to a diverse
sample of television news viewers. This study has used a survey research design with
random sampling to collect data from a representative sample of the Indian population. The
target population for this study will be all age group living in and around Delhi.

The survey will include questions assessing participants' perceptions of news credibility,
their level of trust in celebrity news anchors, and demographic information. Statistical
analyses, such as regression modelling, will be employed to identify potential relationships
between variables.

Potential Variables -

Independent Variable: Celebrity Status of News Anchors Operationalized by measuring

participants' awareness and perception of news anchors as celebrities.

Dependent Variable: Perceived Credibility of Television News Operationalized by

participants' ratings of credibility based on specific news segments presented by celebrity
and non-celebrity anchors.

Mediating Variables: Trust in News Anchors Operationalized by participants' responses to

questions assessing their level of trust in both celebrity and non-celebrity news anchors.

Moderating Variables: Demographic Factors Operationalized by participants' demographic

information, including age, gender, education level, and socio-economic status, to explore
potential variations in perceived credibility.
 Chapterization:

(a) Introduction
(b) Review of Literature
(c) Research Methodology
(d) Tabulation and Analysis
(e) Finding and Conclusion
*Bibliography and References
 References

Business Dictionary. (2017). Prime Time.

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/prime-time.html

Finalization of 'Policy Guidelines for the Empanelment of Private C&S TV Channels and
Fixation of Rates for Government Advertisement by DAVP - 2017'.

http://davp.nic.in/writereaddata/announce/New_Policy_TV.pdf

Varma, A. (2015). Indian news anchors: Judge, jury and executioner.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/no-free-lunch/indian-news-anchors-judge-jury-
andexecutioner/

Rather, D. (n.d.). DAN RATHER: AMERICAN JOURNALIST.

https://danratherjournalist.org/anchorman/role-anchor

Roy, P. (2015, May 4). The Tabloidization of Indian News.

https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/prannoy-roy-on-the-tabloidization-of-indian-

news-760247