Information Technology And The Changing Role Of Mass Media In Nigeria

In this study, the researcher examined the impact of information technology (IT) on media development in Nigeria. Towards this end, the researcher randomly selected 78 staff of radio Nigeria and the guardian newspaper to form the study sample. The 78 members of the study sample were given 78 copies of structured questionnaires to complete. Their responses were analyzed using percentages.

The analyses of the responses revealed the following findings.

The use of IT resources had positively transformed to media/communication industry in Nigeria. Its areas of application in the industry include: News/Information gathering and dissemination, preparation of news items for publication and broadcasting and the express distribution of news items.

The constraints/problems militating against the effective use of IT resources in Nigeria media industry include the following, unreliable power supply, incompetent human resources, unreliable telecommunication network and lack of adequate capital.

These problems could be overcome through the provision of reliable power supply and telecommunication network, human resources development in the area of IT and the provision of adequate capital.

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

Mbadugha (2000:48) defined information technology (IT) as the application of technology to information management. He stated that in recent years there has been many examples of media house in Nigeria who apply IT resources in their operations.

Udoma (1999:57) reported that information is an extremely valuable resource. This implies that any individuals or organization that has current and useful information is regarded as being very powerful.

Organizations, particularly the media houses are information processing entities. This justifies the huge investment in research development (R and D) in the area of information generation and processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination, particularly in the advance economics.

Information is thus jealously gathered, loaded shared freely or sold, depending upon the motive of the possessor.
In the media industry, which is characterized by high level of competition, success is to a large extent dependent on the speed and efficiency of communication.

Information technology (IT) provides near limitless possibilities of increasing the quantity and enhancing the quality, speed and availability of information in a complex but inter-dependent world of Business Communication (Anyakora, 1998:77). The idea of information technology dates back to the earliest time. The earliest form of writing (Cuneiform), for example, was invented in 35 B.C. Nwadamma (1997:78) reported that Tiro invented shorthand in 63 B.C. He equally noted that Henry Mill patented the typewriter in 1994, while the principles of the modern day facsimile (fax) transmission was patented by Brain Way Back in 1843.

Hence, as regards information technology, what is new therefore is the impressive array and sophistication of information technology resources, its increasing efficiency, reliability, speed, accuracy, cheapness, portability and ubiquity, made possible by micro processors.

The microprocessors are inexpensive, extremely efficient and miniaturized information processing units- a phenomenal invention of information technology.

According to Iwuoha (2000:102) the offices of the media houses of the early 1070s is a "paper and file office". He explained that in these offices, most of the information processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination is done through paper document. He also explained that such offices are usually littered with paper and files, while documents in the office easily got destroyed or misplaced. He noted that response to paper communication during the period under discussion is therefore a costly show process and is fraught with uncertainties. He argued that all these are gradually changing particularly in the developing countries. He enumerated some of these countries/nations, and they include the following:

1. African countries, such - Nigeria

South African

Republic of Benin

Cote d" Ivoire

Zimbabwe

Botsward

Egypt

Guinea Bissan

Equitorial Guinea

Ethiopia

Ghana

Cameroon

Mali and Togo

2. Asian countries. Eg - India

Parkistan

Indonesia

Bangkok

Thailand

Philippines

3. Latin American countries eg -Colombia

Bolivia

Brazil

Venezuela

Ecuador

Chile

Peru and Argentina

In advanced economics (such as in USA, Britain, Japan and Canada) information technology has become more visible and more widely applied: thus revolutionizing the process of producing and reproducing data, information and knowledge, as well as distributing them.

Microprocessor- Fitted devices (products about everywhere in these countries and come in diverse configuration-wrist- watches, pocket calculators, electronic cash registers, computers and so on.

Thus operational activities within organization and their subsidiaries, as well as between them and their various public client; reporters, suppliers, shareholder, private and government agencies- are fast becoming and increasingly exciting experience (Okeke, 1999). Information technology (IT) is increasingly helping wake information an extremely mobile resource. Hence, for those media houses that have the facilities (that is IT resources) the world is fast shrinking into a "distance - less" wond.

1.2 Statement of Problem

The advent of information technology (IT) in Nigeria had revolutionaries the information/communication sector of the nations economy media houses and media practitioner could as a result of this, transmit messages, ideas and information between one part of the country to another, and even across the national boundaries by the application of IT resources such as the facsimile (Fax) machine, the internet as well as the use of the global system for mobile communication (GSM) in Nigeria, however people seldom appreciate the benefit of IT resources especially in the information /communication sector.

Then questions then are: what are the areas of application of IT resources in media communication? How does the use of IT resource affect the operational efficiency of the Nigeria media houses? What are the constraints to effective utilization of IT resources in media communication in Nigeria? These questions presented the problem that necessitated this study.

1.3 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.

1.4 Research Questions

This study will be guided by the following research questions: - What are the areas of application of IT resources in media communication in Nigeria?

How does the use of IT resources affect the operational efficiency of the Nigeria media houses?

What are the constraints to effective utilization of IT resources in media communication in Nigeria?

What are the strategies for surmounting the constraints/difficulties?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings and recommendations of this research, if implemented will benefit both the media houses and media practitioner in Nigeria. It will expose the media houses to the vast opportunities available in the areas of IT as regards information generation and dissemination.

This will reduce the cost of gathering and dissemination of information by the media houses/media practitioners. It would equally increase their number of Nigerians that would have access to vital information.

1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The scope of this research border on information technology (IT) and media development in Nigeria, the bordering of this research also extended to include the various IT resources being used by the media practitioner and media houses in Nigeria. This research is limited to the staff of the Enugu and Lagos offices of Radio Nigeria and the guardian newspaper.

1.7 Theoretical Framework

This focus and content of this research is predicated by the theory of inevitability of change as postulated by Faber (1979). According to this theory, the changes in technological inventions/innovations are inevitable, and when such changes occur, they tend to drive away the existing technological culture.

Summary and Conclusions

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.

5.1 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).

5.2 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

5.3 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.

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Significance of the study

1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

1.7 Theoretical Framework

Chapter Two

Literature Review

2.1 Information Technology (IT) - Types and Functions

2.1.1 The Telephone

2.1.2 Facsimile (Fax) Machine

2.1.3 The Word Processor

2.1.4 The Electronic Computer

2.2 Application of Information Technology (IT) in Nigeria

2.3 Infrastructures needs for Successful IT Operation

2.4 Negative Impacts of Information Technology

2.5 The Developing Economics and Information Technology (IT)

Chapter Three

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Method

3.2 Sources of Data

3.3 Study of Population

3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques

3.5 Instrument for Data Collection

3.6 Validity of the Instrument

3.7 Method of Data

3.8 Method of Data Analysis

Chapter Four

Data Analysis and Results

4.1 Data Analysis

4.1.1 Analysis of Questionnaire Data

Chapter Five

Summary and Conclusions

5.1 Summary of Findings

5.2 Conclusions

5.3 Recommendations

References

Appendix (The Questionnaire)

• Use of Information Communication Technology in the Teaching and Learning of Secondary School Biology
• Teachers’ preparedness in integrating information communication technology
• Strategic Management Practices, Information Technology and Performance
• Risk Management and Performance of Information Technology Projects by Commercial Banks
• Relationship Between Information And Communication Technology Usage And Academic Performance
• Multimedia Technology Application To Information Service
• Interaction between information technology Capability, environmental conditions and Competitiveness of consultancy firms

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials