Public perceptions of false positive and negative errors in news reports

Due to the problem of misinformation, the public is advised to obtain information from reputable sources to avoid inaccurate news coverage (false positive errors). However, even reputable sources might fail to cover some important news stories (false negative errors). We use this dichotomy as a descriptive framework for two dimensions of perceived media performance, rather than as a claim that all reporting decisions are literally binary. Based on this framework, we conducted a survey in Japan ( ) to examine citizens’ perceptions of these two dimensions and their correlational implications for media consumption. The results indicate that respondents perceive different types of media to vary in their likelihood of committing the two errors; these perceptions correlate with media consumption. Furthermore, media literacy interventions may unexpectedly increase demand for alternative media. Exploratory subgroup analyses also suggest that they may shift preferences over the two types of reporting errors.