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Alternative Media from the Perspective of Journalism Students

100%

Izrael P.

Media Literacy and Academic Research

2025

vol. 8

issue 1

258-273

In recent years, several trends can be seen in the media environment: a massive expansion of the range of information sources, fragmentation of the audience, a paradigm shift in access to and search for information, and the rise of so-called alternative media. Although alternative media is not a new trend, the emergence of social networks, the ease of creating, disseminating and sharing media content, together with factors such as the polarisation of society and the crisis of trust in institutions, are contributing to the changing landscape of alternative media. The literature review shows the fluctuation of meaning, the instability of the term. In scholarly texts we find references to alternative media as community media, radical media, critical media, with the common denominator being the presentation of topics and opinions that are not sufficiently presented in the traditional media. In the Slovak media environment, alternative media are mostly perceived as those through which disinformation, conspiracies and hate speech are spread. The study presents the results of qualitative research focused on journalism students and their attitudes towards alternative media. The aim was to find out how they perceive alternative media in relation to traditional media and the spread of misinformation. The research is based on in-depth interviews with eight first-year students of the journalism study programme. The interviews show that the perception of alternative media is not uniform. On the one hand, they are perceived as a space for opinions that do not get attention in the mainstream media, on the other hand, they are also perceived as disseminators of misinformation. Despite the impossibility of generalisation, it is interesting to note that the respondents have no experience of systematic media education addressing verifying information and media credibility.

The Prevalence and Impact of Political Disinformation During Elections in North Macedonia

86%

Palloshi Disha E., Sorrells J., Kreci V., Ismaili V.

Media Literacy and Academic Research

2025

vol. 8

issue 1

208-227

This study investigates the perception of political disinformation as a societal problem in North Macedonia, particularly during parliamentary and presidential elections. The study further aims to identify strategies that promote resilience against disinformation while also improving informed decision-making and civic political participation. It uses a mixed quantitative and qualitative method to measure the perceptions of the citizens and representatives of the media sector regarding disinformation and how it affects political and democratic endeavors in North Macedonia. The survey, conducted after the parliamentary and presidential elections among a diverse sample of citizens, provides quantitative insights into public perceptions of the extent to which political disinformation is a significant problem in the country. To complement the quantitative data, qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with representatives from the media sector. These interviews explored their perspectives on the prevalence of political disinformation as a problem in the country and its implications for democratic processes. Key findings in this study include insights from the media representatives in North Macedonia, which reinforce differing perspectives on how much of a threat disinformation poses. These differences varied across media sectors including print, television, and online media outlets. These findings complement the perception of disinformation as a serious threat, especially among specific demographics like age groups, level of education, and ethnicity. Understanding perceptions of disinformation as a serious threat in the country, this article will enhance the ability to establish healthy media consumption habits and reinforce the need for tailored media literacy. Expanding on this concept will strengthen societal resilience, safeguard democratic integrity, and ensure the accuracy of information in North Macedonia.

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2 Media Literacy and Academic Research

1 Ismaili V.

1 Izrael P.

1 Kreci V.

1 Palloshi Disha E.

1 Sorrells J.

2 2025

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Alternative Media from the Perspective of Journalism Students

The Prevalence and Impact of Political Disinformation During Elections in North Macedonia