INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIESICTS ON NEWS GATHERING A STUDY OF PRACTICING JOURNALISTS IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Abstract

This study Influence of ICTs on news writing, a study of practicing journalists in Owerri municipal council has positive impact on news writing and reporting because the advent of modern technology has really done great thing in our country. It is relevant to journalism practice because every technological breakthrough brings with its new audience, new orientation, new prospects and challenges. For an organization to effectively sell its products to an audience efficiently and effectively, it must have an efficient and adequate information technologies and corresponding knowledge of their uses. The objectives of the study is to ascertain the influences of ICTs on journalism practice. It explored the impact of the technologies in news and information reportage. However, the research method used in the study is the survey research method on practicing journalists. The sampling technique used was the purposive sampling technique which is the non probability sampling technique, also the sample size was determined using the Taro Yamanes formula 1964 which was 122. It used questionnaire to generate data and chisquare to test hypothesis. The findings showed that Owerri based practicing journalist were aware of ICTs, have access to ICTs and therefore make use of ICTs. ICTs have positive impact on news and information reportage. It recommends that capacity building is essential in the exposure of media practitioners to the requirements of technologies.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Media need to be recognized as an important vehicle responsible of acquainting the citizens with welldefined national goals by informing them of their role, expectation and obligation. Media practice is public interest oriented. It is the means through which government, institutions, organization and all others in authority are held accountable to and by the public. It means that the content of the media influences peoples thought and feelings and the world at large.

However, the alteration of the nature of communication experience in the society by the media, with the new technologies has become conspicuous. People attitude to the traditional media of televisions, music, radio, film and print has also changed due to the dynamic nature of the applied technology in their preference and delivery. Relative in the diaspora can interact with each other in cyber space the digital world of communication.

In essence, the media and emerging technologies are bringing news ways of sending ideas, feelings, opinions, thoughts and information, new ways of hearing about the world, its identities and the future advance in the technology and their services have facilitated global information flour, which have fulfilled Marshal McLuhans global village concept, where ones neighbor is no longer the fellow who lives next door. He would be in a remote part of the hemisphere separated from one only on time and distance but also be differences in language, culture, norms and value. What happens to ones known by the other within a split second Agba, 2001:7

Information technology is any artifact manipulated by man to aid him communicate personally, massively and above all, timely information and communication technology ICT have enhanced global neighborhood in terms of medially in communication and information dissemination around the globe Nodu 2004:32

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The modern technological era has increasingly paved the way and created impact in the communication world with the result and other reason, much emphasis therefore should be laid on procuring digitalized equipment, no matter what or much it cost. This action therefore will help to enhance the quality and quantity of news and information contents. The problem therefore, is that new technologies cannot address the problems of news content and staleness in the media particularly the print medium.

As a relatively new and indeed vast field, the new information technology has been greeted with curiosity. It has touched off analyses of its native potentials and danger Ukonu 2006:98. Third world countries like Nigeria and Ghana have also joined in the search on how to adapt the potentials of the new information technology to the best use possible. The problem is that the ignorance about the capabilities of the NICT can affect their use and adaptation in contemporary mass media industries, Journalism practice cannot benefit from only adaptation.

NICTs adoption in the rural area is perceived at a misplaced priority, now journalistic practice can address this importantly too, is the study of the behavior of journalist fear of job safety, carrier substitution towards NICTs since their emergence in their work places it becomes necessary to ascertain if the fear of job loss and health hazards associated with NICTs are real or imagined as a hindrance to the adoption of the new technologies for news gathering and journalism practice.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The purpose of the study is to:

1. To find out if practicing journalists in Owerri are aware of ICTs.

2. To ascertain the proportion of practicing journalists in Owerri that have received formal training in the ICTs.

3. To find out if the use of ICTs have positive impact on news and information reportage.

4. To find out if practicing journalists in Owerri have access to ICTs.