Information consumption and use of digital technologies by journalism students at the National University of San Luis

Abstract

This work describes a data collection experience linked to the consumption of current-affairs information and use of digital technologies by students from 1st, 2 ndand 3 rd year of the Journalism program at the National University of San Luis (UNSL). The research followed a quantitative approach. The data collection method consisted of a survey conducted to 52 |Vol. 10. Nº 15. Noviembre 2020/abril 2021| Departamento de Educación FCH/UNSL |[150]Journalism students from March to April. The information obtained through this instrument allowed us to analyze the current-affairs information consumption habits and the verification of sources by the studied subjects. We considered these actions to be essential for the responsible performance of the journalistic profession. We further took into account the fact that those actions are directly linked to the professional ethics involved in working with information which must be processed in order to communicate the facts that are considered relevant to the public. University training of future news professionals requires a review of their non-incidentalmedia consumption practices. It must also propose to analyze the social commitment of those who are educated at public, state-run universities and the ethical duty of the journalism university program. This research is expected to raise debates around thetraining of journalists, to promote actions for the development of pedagogical teaching and learning strategies that increase the indexes of current-affairs information consumption on the part of those who will be responsible for providing news.