CITIZENS REPORTAGE AND NEWS CREDIBILITY AMONG RESIDENTS OF UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The study focused on “citizen’s reportage and news credibility among residents of Uyo local government area”. The objectives of the study were; to find out the extent of citizens’ reportage among residents in Uyo Local Government Area; determine the forms in which residents engage in citizens’ reportage in Uyo Local Government Area; ascertain the perception of citizens’ reportage on news credibility among residents in Uyo Local Government Area and to examine the influence of citizens’ reportage on news consumption in Uyo Local Government Area. Agenda setting and diffusion of innovation theory were adopted to guide the study. The population of the study was 1,200,000. Survey research design was used. Using questionnaire as instrument for data collection, a total of 384 questionnaire were administered and 380 copies were returned for analysis. Findings in the study revealed that citizen reportage was practiced to a very great extent in Uyo local government area. Findings also showed that there were many forms in which individuals engage in citizen reportage practice in Uyo local government area, including podcast, social media engagement, among others. It was recommended that initiatives should be developed to enhance the credibility and resources available to citizen reporters in Uyo local government area. It was also recommended that training programs focusing on news credibility should be implemented for both citizen journalists and professional journalists in Akwa Ibom State.