CHAPTER ONE

     INTRODUCTION

     1.1
Background of the Study

 Broadcasting has been at the forefront of many
technological changes, mostly in digitalization and enhancement of existing
technology. For example, digital technology now permits listeners to obtain
traffic information and news per se, while listening to a cassette, compact
disc or radio station etc. (Church Akpan 2006).

 We are all living in a changing world, and
over the past many ears we have been conditioned to accept changes in the way
we think and relate. Thus, communication between the peoples of the world which
sounded utopist before is now becoming a reality in or very eyes giving
practical meaning to Marshall Mollohan’s view of the world ad a global village
interlinked by communication technologies, (Mc Lucan, 1964. P47)

 Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT) are electronic machines and devices. Their application have both
computing and communication capabilities. They range from physical devices like
digital cameras, tape recorders, computers, sensing devices, scanners, mobile
phone, etc to cyber space-the internet, software, teleconferencing, satellite
etc. Their application is broad and cuts across all interpersonal and mass
communication media, giving more power, robustness and veracity to their
operations and performance. More thane ninety years after the world’s first
broadcasting station were pounded, radio is still the most persuasive,
accessible, affordable and flexible mass medium available in cities, urban
towns and rural areas. It is often the only mass medium available to majority
of the people.

 The application of information and
communication technologies into broadcasting especially radio broadcasting is
therefore designed to boost and enhance qualities of broadcast programmes. Most
importantly has been the digitization of radio signal, innovation programming
and live reporting from any corner of the world.

 It is also believed that the business of radio
broadcasting has been elevated with information and communication technologies
application. This informs why this project is undertaken with a view of finding
out what information and communication technologies have on broadcasting,
taking the Atlantic FM, Uyo, as a reference point.

1.2 Statement
of Problem

 Most researches on radio reporting have their
focus on coverage of particular events of general interest and critique of
programmes. This is so because it permits a close scrutiny of the output of
radio stations. Today, with the addition of the profit making bias to the
business of radio broadcasting, news and other programmes are seen as products
which have to be packaged well.

 Atlantic FM, Uyo, is a newly established radio
station in Akwa-ibom State. However, it is certain that it applies information
and communication technologies in broadcasting functions.  Thus, this research seeks to find out the
Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) on Radio News
processing.

1.3 Objective
of the Study

 The
objectives of this study are:

1.                 
To find out if
Information and Communication Technologies are used by Atlantic FM,

Uyo in it broadcast
reporting.

2.                 
To find the extent
ICT is been applied in broadcast reporting in Atlantic FM, Uyo.

3.                 
To find out impact of
Iformation and Communication Technologies on the output of broadcast reporting
in Atlantic FM Radio, Uyo.

4.                 
To make
recommendations on the use of ICT on news report.

1.4 Research
Questions

 The
following research questions were formulated;

1.                 
What is the extent of
the application of Information and Communication Technologies in broadcast
reporting of Atlantic FM, Uyo?

2.                 
Does Atlantic FM,
Uyo, make use of these modern Information and Communication

Technologies in
broadcast reporting?

1.5 Research
Hypothesis

 The
following research hypothesis will be relevant to this study

H1: Atlantic FM, Uyo, makes use of ICT in radio new
broadcasting.

H0: Atlantic FM, Uyo, does not make use of modern
ICT in radio new reporting.

H2: ICT application will improve the output of
radio news processing in Atlantic FM Uyo.

H0: ICT application will not improve the output of
broadcast reporting in Atlantic FM, Uyo.

1.6 Scope
of Study

 This study is restricted to only the radio
services-The Atlantic FM, Uyo. The findings and its results can only be used to
determine the impact created in other radio stations where information and
communication technologies are employed in broadcasting of programs.

1.7 Significance
of the Study

The findings as a
result of this stud are expected to provide information that would help radio
broadcasting improve with the use of ICTs as well as provide insight to
Atlantic FMs management. it will also help the team make necessary amends in
the positive direction where they are found to be lacking behind and equally
provide model for researchers and institutions of higher learning which will
serve as reference point.

1.8 Definition
of Terms

 The
definitions of terms were operationally defined

Communication:

This is the process
of transmitting information, ideas and attitudes from one person to another.

Broadcast Reporting:

 This is the
journalistic act of sourcing, covering, working, editing and presenting news on
the radio.

FM (Frequency
Modulation)

 It is the type
of radio broadcast service in which the frequency varies in a manner
corresponding to the sound of the voice/music transmitted which is one hundred
and eight six thousand miles per second. It was found in the 1930s by Edwin
Armstrong and is allocated in the very high frequency (VHF) – the part of the
radio spectrum from thirty to three hundred megahertz.

Radio:

   It
is a telecommunication system by modulation and radiation of electromagnetic
waves.

ICTs:

 Information and Communication
Technologies this is a set of technologies used in accomplishing modern radio
communication without face-to-face meeting.