Data

As news organizations face considerable challenges, many journalists are utilizing alternative platforms and storytelling techniques to reach citizens. Of note, several newsrooms now disseminate news through the video-based social media app, TikTok, using strategies and aesthetics common on the platform (i.e., humor, sketches, trending sounds, etc.). However, the extent to which audiences trust and learn from this news content is unclear. In this study, we conduct a randomized, controlled online experiment (N = 538) to assess two main questions: 1) Do audiences trust and find credible journalists who disseminate news through TikTok? and 2) To what extent do audiences learn from a TikTok news video, especially in comparison to a print article? The results indicate audiences may find journalists less trustworthy, credible, professional, and knowledgeable (but more likable) when they convey information over TikTok, rather than through a print article. Further, participants who viewed a news TikTok demonstrated higher topic knowledge than those who read an article containing the same information, and this relationship was mediated by attention. These results suggest that journalists can successfully convey news information over TikTok; however, this may come at the expense of reduced credibility perceptions.