Information Technology and the Changing Role of Mass Media in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study are as follows:
- To identify the various areas of application of information technology (IT) resources in media communication.
- To ascertain the effect of the used of IT resources on the operational efficiency of the Nigeria media houses.
- To identify the constraints to effective utilization of IT resources in media communication in Nigeria.
- To suggest the strategies for surmounting these constraints.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter reviewed the relevant literature as regards information technology and the changing role of mass media in Nigeria. . Their review done in this chapter was derived from textbooks, journals, and unpublished project/research report.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) TYPES AND FUNCTIONS
Information technology resources abound in Nigeria. According to Okoro (2001) some of these information technology (IT) resources include the following
- The telephone
- The facsimile (Fax) machine
- The word processor
- The electronic computer; and
- The electronic mail.
THE TELEPHONE
The telephone has been become so common place that any attempt to describe its functions may seem super flow. However, since Graham Bill, fondly referred to as “the father of telephone” made a maiden use of this seemingly simple technological device, the telephone has undergone so phenomenal transformation that today, it has become a powerful medium for mediating interpersonal communication.
The present day sophisticated telephone is equipped with answering devices, thereby introducing flexibility into telephone usage, as time shifting enables participants to shift post phone that participation in a telephone communication.
The modern day improved communication technology has also put in place sophisticated telephone networks for conveying information electronically. Most computers now “talk back” to each other, while fax messages are transmitted via telephone lines. (Udoji 2000) modern telephone networks now help to bring together widely dispersed business executives who trips across nations and continent are being unlaced by teleconferencing – a technology that enables such individuals to meet electronically, make plans, set goals and general exchange notes.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter described the procedure for the research on information technology and the changing role of the mass media in Nigeria.
The chapter described the following:
RESEARCH METHOD
This research/study is a cross-sectional study of all the staff in Enugu and Lagos offices of radio Nigeria and the guardian newspaper company.
SOURCES OF DATA
The data used in this study were derived from two main sources, namely:
- Primary Data: This includes those data, which the research collected by herself by means of questionnaire interview.
- Secondary Date: This include those data which the researcher collected from already documented records such as from textbooks, newspaper, unpublished research/project, report, etc.
STUDY POPULATION
The target population consists of all the staff of Enugu and Lagos offices of Radio Nigeria Enugu and guardian newspaper information/data from the personnel services department of the corporation revealed that they have 355 staff as of the period of the research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
In this chapter, the researcher presented and analyzed all the data collected for this study using table and percentages.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONLUSIONS
This chapter dealt with the summary of the major findings of the study on information technology (IT) and the changing role of the media in Nigeria. This chapter also contains the conclusions and recommendations of the study.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The discussions and analyses made in this study revealed the findings explained below.
Majority of the respondents (92.31%) agreed that information technology (IT) resources are widely applied in the Nigeria media and communication industry. Also it is found from data analysis resources in the media/communication industry include the following:
- In news and information gathering (as noted by 89.74% of the respondents).
- Information and news dissemination (as noted by 88.46% of the respondents).
- Preparation of news items for publication or broadcasting (as noted by 92.31% of the respondents), and
- For express distribution of news items (as noted by 64.21% of the respondents).
The analysis done in this research also revealed that the use of IT resources had enhanced the operational efficiency of the Nigeria media industry. A greater percentage of the respondents (91.03%) stated that the use of IT resources give the media industry the instant opportunity of disseminating vital news and information to the public. Also a large proportion of the respondents (87.18%) agreed that the use of IT resources reduces the cost of gathering news and information by the media industry.
Data analysis done in this project reveals that these are certain constraints/problems that impedes the effective utilization of IT resources in media communication in Nigeria. Some of these constraints include the following:
- Inadequate and unreliable public power supply services (as noted by 92.31% of the respondents)
- Incompetent human resources (as noted by 89.74% of the respondents).
- Unreliable telecommunication network (as noted by 83.33% of the respondents)
- Lack of adequate capital.
Majority of the respondents agreed that the adoption or implementation of certain strategies would help to overcome these problems constraints. Some of these strategies include the following: Provision of reliable public power supply (as noted by 94.87% of the respondents); Provision of reliable telecommunication facilities/network (as noted by 88.46% of the respondent); and the provision of training opportunities for IT users in the media industry (as noted by 84.62% of the respondent).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that the advent of information technology (IT) had positively transformed the Nigeria media/communication industry in Nigeria. IT resources are widely applied in many areas in the media industry. Some of the areas of application of IT resources in the media industry include the following:
- In news and information dissemination
- In news/information dissemination
- In news preparation of news items for publication or broadcasting.
- For express distribution of news items
This research also revealed that the use of IT resources had enhanced the operational efficiency of the Nigeria media industry. Its use had equally given the media industry the instant opportunity of disseminating vital news and information to the public. In addition, this study showed that the use of IT resources reduces the cost of gathering news and information by the media industry.
This study also revealed that some of the constraints/problems that impedes the effective use of IT resources in the Nigeria media industry the following:
- Inadequate/Unreliable power supply
- Incompetent human resources
- Unreliable telecommunication network
- Lack of adequate capital
RECOMMENDATIONS
The researcher hereby recommended the following:
- The media industries in Nigeria should open up a special account that would be designated as “IT training fund”. The money accruing to this account should be used both for regular training and upgrading the skills of their IT staffs, and for the purchase and maintenance of their IT resources.
- The Government should provide a reliable public power supply in the country.
- The government should ensure an optimum performance of the nation’s telecommunication facilities.
REFERENCE
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