The Effects of Television’s Reliance on Social Media Content from the Perspective of Academic Media Experts in the Kurdistan Region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21928/juhd.v12n4y2026.pp89-110Keywords:
Television, Social Media, Media Content, Intermediality, Media Ecology, Kurdistan RegionAbstract
In the era of rapid changes in media ecology, this research analyzes the extent and nature of the reliance of television channels in the Kurdistan Region on social media content. It also highlights the effects of this phenomenon on the form, role, and identity of traditional media. The significance of this research lies in its attempt to answer the following main question: What changes has television's reliance on social media created in the form and professional standards of this medium? To obtain an answer, this study adopted an Inductive Qualitative Analysis approach and Thematic Analysis by analyzing data collected from (11) in-depth interviews with academic media experts. The most significant results indicate that this reliance has led to fundamental changes in program formats, such as shortening duration and imitating viral formats, a significant decline in professional and ethical standards such as verification and Gatekeeping, and a deepening of the trust crisis. The research concludes that television, in its attempt to survive, is compromising its identity as a credible source.
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