Digital Information Disorder and Professional Gatekeeping: Implications for Journalism Credibility in Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between digital information disorder, changing gatekeeping practices, and perceived journalism credibility in Taraba State, Nigeria. Anchored on gatekeeping and social responsibility theories, the investigation adopted a convergent mixed-methods design, surveying social-media users (n=282) across three senatorial districts and practicing journalists (n=94; pooled N=376), integrated with in-depth interviews with 12 senior media practitioners. Quantitative results reveal universal reliance on social media for news (100.0%), predominantly via Facebook (52.1%) and WhatsApp (26.6%). A pronounced audience verification deficit was identified: 31.6% of users rarely or never verify claims before sharing, and 70.5% routinely believe unconfirmed digital reports. Concurrently, 82.9% of journalists report frequent deviations from professional legal and ethical standards, generating intense newsroom pressure as unverified viral claims precede factual correction (M=3.34, SD=0.71). Thematic analysis contextualises this strain across four dimensions, notably an “epistemic contagion” and reactive debunking burden that precipitate a perceived “journalistic deficit” and mutual trust erosion (70.6%). The study concludes that credibility diminishes when platform circulation outpaces professional gatekeeping and unvetted peer sharing eclipses institutional verification. It recommends institutionalising newsroom rapid-verification workflows, transparent report attribution, community-level forum moderation, and localized media-literacy interventions.