Jordanian Audience Reliance on Video Journalism in Jordanian Digital News Websites as a Source of Information and Their Attitudes toward Its Credibility

Abstract

This study examines Jordanian audience reliance on video journalism in Jordanian digital news websites and its impact on political knowledge, informational dependence, and perceived credibility. It also investigates the role of exposure to digital news platforms and video content in shaping trust and informational behaviour. The study employed a simple random sample of 500 male and female journalists working in Jordanian digital news websites, alongside a purposive selection of five major platforms: Al-Ghad Newspaper Website, Jordan News Agency (Petra), Al-Rai Newspaper Website, Saraya News Agency, and Ammon News Agency, all actively utilizing video journalism during 2023–2024. The study tests four hypotheses concerning the relationships between exposure to electronic news websites and political knowledge; exposure to news video content and trust in content; reliance on digital news websites and informational dependence; and exposure to news sources and trust in news sources. It also addresses research questions regarding the influence of digital exposure on political knowledge, the effect of video journalism on perceptions of credibility, and the extent of informational dependence on digital news platforms. Findings indicate significant positive relationships across all variables. Reliance on electronic news websites is the strongest predictor of informational dependence, while exposure to video journalism shows a moderate association with trust in content. Exposure to digital platforms is also significantly linked to political knowledge. Overall, the results suggest that Jordanian audiences are highly engaged with digital news environments, in which exposure and reliance significantly shape informational outcomes. At the same time, credibility remains a multidimensional construct influenced by additional contextual and institutional factors.