ABSTRACT on Modern Communication Gadgets

The research set out to examine the advent of modern communication gadgets and its Implications for Journalists. The study was anchored on Mediamorphosis Theory and Technological Determination Theory. Theories emphasizing that as we move from old technology to the new ones, new technology influences the way we do things. A cross-sectional survey research method was used while the data collection instrument for this study was questionnaire. 100 respondents were purposively selected from the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Chapel Amambra state.  Finding showed that, news reading, gathering and dissemination, sound and audio editing, jingles and other related commercials are some of the areas in which the impact of modern technologies have been felt in broadcasting media and print media. Finding also indicated that modern communication technologies make journalism practice more lively and interactive, make news gathering and dissemination faster, help reduce human efforts and time, and also make the media more productive. Therefore, for media organizations to fully appreciate the impact of modern technology in performing its duties, there is need to ensure adequate training of members of staff, find a solution to epileptic power supply, and also avoid the transmission of false and unverified stories culled from online media.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1       Background to the study

Advancement in modern communication technology has revolutionized all facets of communication during the past decades. Access to people and information practically anywhere and anytime in the world has been quicker, cheaper and easier. However, the use of modern communication gadgets performs this magic.

Kur (2004) cited in Awake (2002) posits that the dynamic nature of the 2lst century and more centuries to come rest on technological revolution. No wonder, Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian English Professor in 1964 propounded the concept of “Global Village” regarding the entire globe as having the potentials of becoming a “global community” where information and news about anything and anywhere in the world would be readily available for anyone’s consumption in any part of the world and without mincing word, the impact of modern communication gadgets in achieving this feat cannot be underestimated.

However, there is no doubt that people in the society are now living in a changing world, and over the past decade, people have been conditioned to accept changes in the way they think, interact, communicate and shop even the way we access news/ information etc because of advancement in modern communication gadgets.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are electronic machines and devices. Their application have both computing and communication capabilities. They range from physical devices like digital cameras, tape recorders, computers, sensing devices, scanners, mobile phones, etc to the internet, teleconferencing, satellites, etc. Their application is broad and cuts across all interpersonal and mass communication media, giving more power, robustness and veracity to their operations and performances. The broadcast media particularly the radio has remained the most persuasive, accessible, affordable and flexible mass medium available in cities, urban towns and rural areas. It is often the only mass medium available to majority of the people.

The application of Information and Communication Technologies into broadcasting is therefore designed to boost and enhance qualities of broadcast programmes. It is also believed that the business of broadcasting has been elevated with the application of Information and Communication Technologies.

At whatever level communication in the society is examined, whether intra personal or inter personal, group, or mass communication, a paradox is evident: contemporary human communication is becoming more complex by the day, but simultaneously, it is being simplified by the use of internet and ICT devices.

ICT and other Internet enabled devices have enhanced broadcast media performance in the area of feedback, endless task of information storage, retrieval and updating in the process of mass communication has been made easy by Internet/ ICT, Internet/ICT has significantly enhanced production processes in mass communication by easing communications problems among reportorial, desk, and production crews, Reporters can be anywhere over the world and report live during the live broadcast and  Online radio and TV become possible as people all over the world can enjoy radio at anywhere by just logging into the website of news body or download their mobile application on Smartphone (Olayinka, 2015).

This informs the reason why this project is undertaken with a view to finding out what effect does Information and Communication Technology gadgets have on journalist in Anambra with a case study of NUJ Chapel  with the view to know the extent at which ICTs is influencing their news gathering, programming, programmes processing and distribution in Nigeria.  

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Going by global trends, which foretell an increase in the employment and the deployment of ICTs in news processing, in order to achieve better efficiency, accuracy, and speed up operations of news processing. Arguably the employment of ICTs in the newsroom and in news processing activities will increase cost, as money would have to be invested into acquiring both hardware and software.

However, when Information and Communication Technology is discussed, it puts people out of jobs. The reverse is often the case. This technology takes over mechanical assignment and frees individuals for more intellectual productive work.

Similarly, if this technology will achieve its overall objective, there is need for faster and more accurate means of solving manual operations of data processing and better storage devices for information and data as provided by ICTs, the complexities of modern technology have produced great mathematical, scientific, and engineering problem and hence, enhanced news processing and reporting.

The Nigerian broadcast and print media like other facet of life and human endeavour in the country have embraced Information and Communication Technology to large extent. To this end, this study tends to investigate the advent and the use of modern communication gadgets: the implication for Nigeria journalism.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The purpose of this study is to attempt a pure objective assessment aimed at improving our understanding of the advent and the use of modern communication gadgets on journalists in Nigeria. Thus, the purposes of this study are:

i. To examine the extent to which journalists are exposed to modern communication gadgets in news gathering and dissemination.

ii.  To know the challenges facing journalists in Nigeria in using modern communication

1.4       Research Questions

The research shall provide answers to the following questions:

i.  To what extent are journalists exposed to modern communication gadgets for information gathering, processing and dissemination?

i.  What are the challenges facing journalists in use of modern communication gadgets?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The findings as a result of this study are expected to provide information that would help media organizations to improve with the use of modern communication gadgets.

It will also help the station make necessary amends in the positive direction where they are found to be lacking behind and equally provide model for researchers and institutions of higher learning by serving as a reference point.

It would also help media tackle possible problems associated with the use of modern communication gadgets because of its technicality.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The study which examines the advent and the use of modern communication gadgets: the implication for Nigeria journalism was narrowed in scope to journalists in Anambra the of the case study was due to time, finance and other logistics.

Other factor responsible for the selection of NUJ chapel, Anambra  is due to proximity of the to the researcher. The demography of the NUJ chapel, Anambra was considered before the structuring and distribution of research instrument to respondent, such factors include but not limited to the sex, age, marital status, educational level, knowledge of modern communication etc.   

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms

Advent: This simply means the arrive or development in something especially modern communication gadgets.

Use of Modern Communication Gadgets: This refers to the Information and communication technology gadgets such as Internet, phone, computer, social media, electronic mail, websites, video tubes that are used for various purposes to advance their performance and used in accomplishing communication efficiency and effectiveness.

Implication: This refer to various challenge alongside the benefits derived from using the gadgets.  

Nigeria Journalism: It means all journalists in Anambra that are saddled with the job of gathering, editing and dissemination.

“ADVENT OF MODERN COMMUNICATION GADGETS & ITS IMPLICATION FOR JOURNALISTS”

WHAT TO EXPECT: (Chapter 1-5, Abstract, Table of Contents, Questionnaire and References)

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