How to resolve AdBlock issue? Study Reveals Majority of Ghanaians Ignore Fake News in the Media
Thursday, 28 November 2024 | Ghana
A recent study by the African Center for Quality Journalism and Research has revealed that approximately 64.4% of Ghanaians take no action to protest or caution others when they encounter fake news or misinformation in the media. This finding is part of the Disinformation Status Report of Ghana, a two-month-long research project conducted between October and November 2024.
The study highlighted that 89.2% of respondents admitted to encountering fake news in the media. Among them, 35.6% said they typically "comment" under such stories, 19.7% "report it," and 7.6% "share it with a friend." However, the majority remain passive, ignoring the false information altogether.
In terms of identifying fake news, 68.2% of respondents said they relied on "credible websites" to verify information, while 19.7% conducted a "Google search," 6.8% consulted friends, and 5.3% expressed uncertainty about identifying fake news.
The study also examined trusted sources of news and information. Television emerged as the most trusted medium, with 37.4% of respondents favoring it. This was followed by "online news websites" (26.7%) and social media platforms (26%). Newspapers were trusted by 6.1%, while only 3.1% turned to "family and friends" for credible information. Interestingly, radio was the least trusted medium, with just 0.8% of respondents selecting it as a reliable source.
Conducted with a sample size of 2,000 participants nationwide, the study aimed to assess the Ghanaian electorate's awareness of disinformation campaigns, their ability to detect fake news, and measures to combat the spread of false information, particularly in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 General Election.
The findings showed a demographic breakdown of the respondents, with 71.2% being male, 28% female, and 0.8% preferring not to disclose their gender. Among these, 94.6% were registered voters, with 11.4% being first-time voters. The remaining 5.4% were unregistered.
The report emphasized the growing threat of disinformation to Ghana’s electoral process, highlighting the importance of media literacy and public awareness in countering its effects. It also noted that a significant portion of the electorate relies on digital tools to fact-check information, underscoring the need for reliable and easily accessible platforms to verify news.
The African Center for Quality Journalism and Research, the organization behind this study, is a non-profit think tank committed to using data and digital tools to promote quality journalism and public accountability in Africa.
The study highlighted that 89.2% of respondents admitted to encountering fake news in the media. Among them, 35.6% said they typically "comment" under such stories, 19.7% "report it," and 7.6% "share it with a friend." However, the majority remain passive, ignoring the false information altogether.
In terms of identifying fake news, 68.2% of respondents said they relied on "credible websites" to verify information, while 19.7% conducted a "Google search," 6.8% consulted friends, and 5.3% expressed uncertainty about identifying fake news.
The study also examined trusted sources of news and information. Television emerged as the most trusted medium, with 37.4% of respondents favoring it. This was followed by "online news websites" (26.7%) and social media platforms (26%). Newspapers were trusted by 6.1%, while only 3.1% turned to "family and friends" for credible information. Interestingly, radio was the least trusted medium, with just 0.8% of respondents selecting it as a reliable source.
Conducted with a sample size of 2,000 participants nationwide, the study aimed to assess the Ghanaian electorate's awareness of disinformation campaigns, their ability to detect fake news, and measures to combat the spread of false information, particularly in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 General Election.
The findings showed a demographic breakdown of the respondents, with 71.2% being male, 28% female, and 0.8% preferring not to disclose their gender. Among these, 94.6% were registered voters, with 11.4% being first-time voters. The remaining 5.4% were unregistered.
The report emphasized the growing threat of disinformation to Ghana’s electoral process, highlighting the importance of media literacy and public awareness in countering its effects. It also noted that a significant portion of the electorate relies on digital tools to fact-check information, underscoring the need for reliable and easily accessible platforms to verify news.
The African Center for Quality Journalism and Research, the organization behind this study, is a non-profit think tank committed to using data and digital tools to promote quality journalism and public accountability in Africa.