Investigating News Sources and Effective Factors in Their Selection among Faculty Members of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences

Academics are among the most influential and important citizens in the culture and scientific security of a society. As a result, this study was based on the hypothesis that the existence of a constant concern about the effect of emerging media provides the ground for misleading this group.

This research is a descriptive-survey study. A total of 101 professors from North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences were selected by convenience sampling and entered into the study. The data collection tool included a researcher-made questionnaire. The initial questionnaire was prepared based on the study of texts and review of various sources. To determine the validity of the questionnaire, the content validity method was used. Data analysis was performed by SPSS16 statistical software using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

Among the participants, 36 were female and 65 were male, 68 were married and 29 were single. Also, in terms of academic rank, the majority of the subjects had the academic rank of instructor or assistant professor. In terms of the use of social networks to obtain news and information, the findings showed that about 48% of the subjects used Telegram messenger as a source of their news and information.

Based on the results, it can be stated that the rate of national news follow-up by the studied units has exceeded the follow-up of provincial and international news.