Abstract

This study interrogates the paradoxical dialectic between digital storytelling and the reconstruction of public trust in news media against the backdrop of institutional credibility erosion. It argues that the industry’s turn towards immersive, multimodal storytelling is not a panacea but rather a paradoxical venture that may simultaneously enhance and undermine perceived credibility. A qualitative comparative case study of divergent narratives surrounding the marital crisis between Senator Ned Nwoko and actress Regina Daniels as played out on TikTok and in traditional Nigerian newspapers provides data for this analysis. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, a multimodal framework, and theory of credibility, findings indicate an epistemological divide regarding truth construction between these platforms. Credibility on TikTok derives from affective authenticity and emotional resonance through raw first-person storytelling validated by community participation creating an epistemology of emotion whereas traditional journalism derives its credibility from institutional authority, procedural rigor, and sourced reporting sustaining an epistemology of institution. This analysis shows how the very aspects that make digital storytelling appear trustworthy to a Gen Z audience-personalization, emotionality, interactivity-are exactly those elements which fundamentally contradict the traditional standards of impartiality and verification. The paper concludes that today's media trust crisis is not just about getting facts right but represents a more profound conflict between two rival systems for determining credibility-one heavily mediated by audience positioning, platform loyalties, and digital literacy.