Media Credibility: A Case Study of RTM 2 and TCS 5 English-Language News Broadcasts

This paper evaluates media credibility in Malaysia and Singapore through a case study of Radio Television Malaysia’s Channel 2 and Television Corporation of Singapore’s Channel 5 English-language news broadcasts. A qualitative content analysis of the two stations’ news broadcasts over a week-long period indicates that whereas in the developmental journalism framework the two broadcasts appear to be credible, they may not measure up to the watchdog or Fourth Estate journalism criteria of credibility. Implications of new information technology for ‘guided’ media systems are considered. The study was done within the framework of media ideology in the two countries.