The Influence of Information and Communication Technology in News Gathering
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The purpose of the study is to:
- To find out if practicing journalists in Owerri are aware of ICTs.
- To ascertain the proportion of practicing journalists in Owerri that have received formal training in the ICTs.
- To find out if the use of ICTs has positive impact on news and information reportage.
- To find out if practicing journalists in Owerri have access to ICTs.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
ICT is an acronym that stands for Information communication and Technology. It refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunication. It is similar to information technology but focuses primarily a communication technology, Information and Communication Technologies can be defined as the set of activities which are facilitated by electronic means, the processing, transmission and distribution of information. This concept also refers to technologies people use to share, distribute, and gather information and to communicate through computer networks. ESCAP (2000) perceive ICT as techniques people use in order to share, distribute and gather information for communicating through computers and computer network. Samadar (1995) submitted that ICT is a tool for facilitating the creation, storage, management and dissemination of information by electronic means. Meanwhile Marcelle(2000), did not see ICT as a complex entity, but an application and services used for the production, distribution, processing and transformation of information with the aid of ICT tools . However, Ogunsola amd Aboyade(2005) are of the view that “ICT came into being as a result of related technologies clearly stated by their functional usage in information access and communication is centralized through the internet. As far as the digital age is concerned is concerned, the benefits that accrue from ICT is enormous. One of the sectors that has benefited immensely from ICT is the broadcast industry. With the use of ICT, news gathering and reporting is immediate, timely and helps reduce the space constraints. The use of ICT has revolutionized news gathering and news dissemination through the use of ICTs. There is no doubt that the employment of ICT in the broadcast industry has enhances improved news delivery as timely as possible to buttress this, Adigwe (2010) cited Soforowa (2009), when he noted that ICT is seen as the integration and utilization of computer technologies for the purpose of dissemination information to a target destination. Consumer without the constraint of time and space. Information and Communication Technology in broadcast news gathering is on the increase by reporters and editors because of its benefits being recognized at every point of the entire supply chain of news. Technology development and the use of ICTs in broadcast industry have improved news reportage. ICT can be used to not only to communication also to convey messages. To this end ICT is referred to as tools that are used to convey, distribute and manipulate information in order to improve its value. Samah et al(2009) cited Noor (2006), when he said ICTs are those components of that aid the accessing, recording, arranging, manipulating and presenting data or information, using tools and software. In terms of cost production Adigwe (2010), pointed out that ICT facilitates news processing and reporting thereby ensuring immediacy and timeliness of news content to its audience. ICT has indeed transformed the world in all spheres of life. It’s potential for reducing manual operations and fostering growth has increased rapidly
Information gathering
Information gathering is the act of conveying or relaying or communicating the message to the audience, it refers to the activity of researching news items for the purpose of broadcast or publication, this activity is commonly done by journalists/reporter. ICT is a useful tool in information gathering. A news media that is using the ICTs in news gathering may not survive the current revolutionary trend in the mass media industry.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought the influence of information and communication technology in news gathering
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the influence of information and communication technology in news gathering. 200 staff of media industries in Owerri was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of information and communication technology in news gathering. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of the influence of information and communication technology in news gathering
Summary
This study was on the influence of information and communication technology in news gathering. Four objectives were raised which included: To find out if practicing journalists in Owerri are aware of ICTs, to ascertain the proportion of practicing journalists in Owerri that have received formal training in the ICTs, to find out if the use of ICTs has positive impact on news and information reportage and to find out if practicing journalists in Owerri have access to ICTs. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected media industries in Owerri. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made news correspondent, broadcasters, editors and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The use of Information Communication and Technologies in information gathering and dissemination by television reporters no doubt has brought about both benefits and problems in information gathering and reporting. Interestingly, Information and Communication Technologies has enhanced information gathering and dissemination, this has caused television reporters to leave their traditional methods of operation. Because it is through Information Communication and Technologies that television broadcast station can broadcast their programmes live. It is therefore imperative to note that Information and Communication Technologies have had a tremendous impact especially positively on information gathering and dissemination by television reporters, while media organizations are advised to carryout workshops and trainings for their reporters, in other to keep them up to date on the new media technologies
Recommendation
Government should also provide journalist with sophisticated equipment and adequate provision of power supply to enable them carry out their duties smoothly.
References
- Adigwe I, (2010). The impact of information and communication technology on news processing: a study of NTA and AIT, unpublished project Lagos State University School of comm.
- Amanebiugwu Stella. (2006) International Journal of Communication: An interdisciplinary journal of communication studies, Enugu: Eberuzerproductions.
- Babatunde F. (2002) Theories of Mass communication: An introductory text Link Publications, Abeokuta.
- Dugo T. (2008) Journalists Appropriation of ICTs in News Gathering and Processing Rhodes Universities. ESCAP (2000) Are ICT policies Addressing Gender Equally? Http://ww.unescap.
- Garrison, B. (2000) Journalists Perception of Online information Gathering problems. Journalism and Mass Comm Quarterly 77 (3) 500-314.
- Gbadamosi L. (2006) Challenges of E-teaching profession and way forward: An educational planners’ view: Paper presented at work shop by FRCN Ijakin Lagos July 2006.
