CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This project is aimed at analyzing the uses and impact of computer technology (internet) on the effective news gathering and dissemination among Nigerian journalists. However, Internet is the worldwide system of interconnected network of more than one computer with the ability to share and exchange files and data from one another irrespective of geographical location and time.
Computer technology otherwise known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which according to a great Canadian English Professor Marshall McLuhan, what has changed the world into a global village by compressing the world into a single electronic room, where information from all nooks and crannies of the world can be exploited and disseminated or exchanged within a twinkle of an eye.
Internet is now a new way of gathering news, which offers maximum advantage to Nigerian journalists. Internet has become an encyclopedia of almost all information in the world and most of the information is gathered free unlike that of subscription to news agencies and wire service before journalists can have access to international news and other information.
The development of technology most especially in this century has impact on every sphere of human life to include mass media. This has changed the look of the existing media. Because of this, the practice of journalism is no longer in the way of one-dimensional flow of information rather it is interactive and the audience are now part of the information gathering and information distribution. It should be noted that information quality through the internet demands caution as it is questionable since it lack the activities of the gatekeepers who can decide what information to disseminate and what not to make available for the public.
Internet poses many challenges on mass media because mass media is considered “spoon-feed” sources of information, a one-way conversation where some media outlets or publishers say “Here you go”, “This is it.” whereas, with the computer technology the power has shifted to the people and the proliferation of information users and audience generated content. It is now a two-way conversation.
Meanwhile, the new media, which the internet is one, has gone a long way in bringing information to ones doorstep.
It is known fact that journalist in Nigerian who want to report adequate information about the widest topical issues will benefit from the service of the internet as source of gathering information and making it possible for journalist to exchange information.
The internet can also help the Nigerian journalist to peak into the daily affairs of the public without physical presence of journalist; it does reduces travelling and hotel accommodation cost and stress.
Therefore, the impact of the internet on journalists cannot be over emphasizing for it’s an essential source where journalist gets information at anytime.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Basically, the research aims to examine the impact of new media on media practitioners using OSBC and Nigerian Tribune as a case study.
To find-out if access to internet or new media like social networking, blogs, and website will bring an end to the practice of traditional or conventional journalism.
The research will find out if the new form of media (internet) will helps journalists to perform effectively in news gathering, processing and information dissemination.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
i. To examine whether computer and internet has enhanced news gathering of broadcasting media.
ii. To know if internet has affected the performance of the Nigerian journalists.
iii. To examine whether mass media depend on internet as a source of information.
iv. To study the negative effects of internet on OSBC and Nigerian Tribune.
v. To examine whether modern technology has captured the audience of the two media organisations.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. Does computer technology enhance the news gathering of mass media?
ii. Has the internet affected the performance of the Nigerian journalists?
iii. Do journalists depend on internet as a major source of information?
iv. Does internet contribute positively to the operation of mass media?
v. Is there any negative effect of Internet on mass media performance?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The finding of this project will be relevant to media house and other agencies in letting them know the importance and usefulness of internet to journalism. It will be useful to internet service providers on how they can serve the journalists better.
Academics, who are studying the information and communication technology (ICT) will find the useful data in finding of the research work. Also, other stakeholder like regulatory bodies, government and professional bodies within the media will find the result interesting.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this work will examine the history of internet, how the internet came into existence.
The work will therefore be limited to the OSBC and Nigerian Tribune.
This is so due to the fact that all mass media in Nigeria cannot be study in whole due to time, fund and other logistics.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Finance: Economically, the study witnesses financial challenges as it is very difficult to travel to all the study areas and browse for information and materials.
Time: There is no enough time to carry out this study as the research time coincidence with the time of examination and other activities.
Material: Due to the inability of the management and the public libraries to acquire enough books which are useful to the study, the study makes use of the available material, which is also relevant to the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Internet: This can be defined as a collection of millions of computer network of varying the size of millions users who share an interactive means for interacting with one another to exchange digital data.
Computer: This an electronic device which is capable of receiving information (data) and performing a sequence of logical operations in accordance with a predetermined but variable set of procedural instructions (program) to produce a result in the form of information or signals.
Journalist: A journalist is a person whose professional is to practices journalism. Also is a person involved in the operation of gathering and dissemination of information through an appropriate medium.
News Gathering: This is the process of collecting and searching for information.
