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Influence Of Information And Communication Technologies(icts) On News Gathering
[A CASE STUDY OF PRACTICING JOURNALISTS IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL]
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Media
need to be recognized as an important vehicle responsible of acquainting
the citizens with well-defined 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 people’s 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 McLuhan’s 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) 2
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)
According
to Okunna (2004:20) wherever we think of information or communication
technology, our minds fly to the world of computer, satellite, fax
machine, fibre optics, digital networks and ultimately the internet
network. She explains further that they are variously called New
Communication Technology (NCT) which makes possible Computer Mediated
Communication (CMC) and have given rise to the information high way or
information super high way. All this have to do with the online world,
which Hibson in Okunna called Cyberspace.
Agba in OkunnaC.S. (2004)
explains that NCTs refers to the technology which impacts directly on
the manner in which the media receive the information prepare for
distribution and distribute in it. Agba also attributes these new firms
and processes of communication with greater speed, greater reach,
clearer vision and capacity for two way flow of information.
Many
newspaper houses in the western states like the TV and Radio also
engaged in satellites publications in different cities across the
country and beyond. Dominick (1993:184) gave example of such papers as
the international herald tribute. Washington post, USA, today
international world paper, the financial times of London, the economics
and the wall street journal.
Satellite publication is not currently
available in Nigeria, thus, the provision of the early editions and late
edition of the same newspapers. If one buys a newspaper of National
circulation in the overt, Edo or Delta States and one buys another copy
of the same newspaper on the same 3
day as soon as the consumers
crosses the Niger bridge into East, the difference in their content
become evident. While one is early edition, the other is in late
edition.
In addressing the relevance of Technologies, Owuamalam
(2005:12) canvasses that the information high way, known as the
internet, shows how maturity in the 21st century has transformed
journalism to a state of art profession, where novices in the new
technology seems to be left at the feet of relegated to the dungeon of
intellectual abyss through either ignorance or inefficient compliance to
the technology opportunities of the century, Owuamalam concludes.
Information
technology is not in itself a medium but a social force, bringing
changes to the media world. It has affected the publishing process like
copywriting, reporting, editing, page making and filming. The internet
and computer have facilitates journalist practice in contemporary times.
The internet is one of the most prominent factors which has given
credence to the statement that the world is a global village (McLuhan,
1974:100).
Nwabueze, (2005:163) defines internet as an
interconnectivity of computers and some other devices like mobile phones
which exchange information with the aid of telephone lines. The screen
of any computer, connected to the internet, is a magic carpet. It
transports a newer round the world in a few minutes without moving an
inch.
Some print publications now use the net to coordinate
activities of their reporters, pages are even planned in some out
stations and send through the net to the head office where such pages
are made part of the newspapers to be published. Most printed
publication are produced regionally, but daily by specially designed
production. Computers which are able to receive data either by phone
lines, micro waves or satellites from where they are printed
automatically Ikpe and Ibekwe (2006:67).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ] 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 ef ... Continue reading---
