SMART PHONE UTILIZATION IN NEWS GATHERING AMONG JOURNALIST

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

From the perspective
of Craig (2000), contemporary development in journalistic reporting related to innovation
in technology inevitably attracts interest. This means that the rise of digital
technology, the convergence of media into multi-media formats and the ubiquity of
the internet are focal points for contemplations about recent changes in journalism
and possible future direction.

According to Belmaker
(2003), say with the introduction of smart-phone technology in news gathering, has
been a good news for reporters today, saying that the advent of Smartphone has made
it possible for them to do part of their job with nothing more than a phone. The
bad news is, the practice of “mobile reporting” is still so much more in its infancy
that there are limited resources and experts out there for guidance.

There is no doubt
in this day and age that we are greatly influenced by the media. This is why most
researchers have taken up the mettle in understanding its functions, and the impact
it makes in changing the matters pertaining to society, the least of which is that
of public opinion. The technological advancements that the modern society is characterized
with, makes individuals today to experience and do things in the most efficient
and effective way. The world has changed since the introduction of the computer
and other technological innovations such as the smart-phone, for which Time and
Space barrier have long been overcome as the need for individuals to get connected.

The staggering effect
of the new media (Smartphone) innovation in the social occasion and scattering of
data among columnists consequently, have offered climb to an increment in expert
and beginner news coverage. The media is not restricted to simply radio, print and
TV alone; the web and advanced cell telephones have made an entire new stage for
the social event and dispersal of news and data inside minutes. With online networking
applications, for example, facebook, twitter, Youtube, Blogs, and Website, the world
can be quickly mindful of any advancement. Cell phone makes utilization of features,
sounds, and pictures, to spread data speedier than any daily paper, radio or TV
house. Consideration is currently on the web reportage of news and occasions, implying
that things are no more the same for customary manifestations of media in the realm
of which Nigeria is not forgotten.

As of now, one of
the best assets of the web is the informal communication Websites. Actually, their
fame among youthful and old Nigerians has constrained media associations in the
nation to make their vicinity felt on the web. This unmistakably clarifies why most
daily papers and television media houses in the nation have on-line version accessible
for on-line gathering of people. These media associations similarly utilize person
to person communication destinations to compliment their sites. The point here is
that, media associations use informal communication locales like facebook and Twitter
to assemble furthermore advise on-line crowds of news and occasions. All these,
plainly demonstrate how effective new media advances are and if successfully utilized
will affects emphatically on journalistic news assembling and reporting.

In any case, notwithstanding
the tremendous possibilities the new media have offered reporting as a calling,
the utilization in the nation is still low, particularly in the telecast media.
In a late study completed by a free review outfit, Fact bound research; a part of
the MMCC Group (Media and advertising correspondence organization) offers assurance
to this Adewakun (2012). Intrinsic in the review report is the way that 69% of telecast
stations in the nation did not have any site whatsoever. The overview similarly
uncovers that 51% of the parts staff (media faculty) tested did not have admittance
to machine or can’t utilize machine viably. The report additionally includes that
31% of telecast houses in Nigeria have sites and in excess of 70% of their parts
of staff (media work force) did not have admittance to organization email administrations,
while just 49% of the staffs (media faculty) have admittance to the organization
email or can utilize machine, the report uncovers. Adewakun (2012) likewise expresses
that the Northern Region of the nation was the most reduced in Information and Communication
Technology utilization in the media among all the areas inspected in the nation.
The study in Adewakun (2012), uncovered the South-Western piece of the nation as
the most elevated clients of web related offices in the media with 55%; the south-eastern
part coming next with 47%; while the South-South Region advancing third position
of the utilization of web related offices with 45%. The Northern Region having the
most reduced in rate with just 10%. This, consequently, brings to the fore the accompanying
inquiries: what is in charge of the low utilization of Information and Communication
Technology in Nigerian media, with specific underlines in the Northern piece of
the nation? What is the demeanor of Nigerian writers towards new media innovations?
What is the demeanor of the Nigerian web group of onlookers towards on-line news
substance?

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The usage of new
media instruments in today’s universe of correspondence, particularly news coverage
among writers can’t be over-looked. Since the landing of new media engineering,
for example, the advanced mobile phone, it has surely changed the way columnists
work furthermore how stories are created and spread. Online networking have had
positive effects. However there are likewise worries about their effect on profit
and antagonistic impact it could have on writers working examples. New media have
made a reliance among those working in the media and a lot of people are not able
to manage without them.

New media have ended
up journalistic vocabulary and it appears sourcing data has overwhelmed self advancement
as an essential social action. Columnists are becoming refined in their utilization
of social networking, and are for example, utilizing an extraordinary mixed bag
of devices to source news. A few writers are less positive about a portion of the
ways online networking influences their journalistic exercises, their engagement
with their group of onlookers, their profit and the nature of their work. In light
of these differentiating perspectives, the issue this exploration tries to answer
is; the way successful is the utilization of new media engineering device among
columnists in Minna city with respect to their journalistic obligations?

1.3 Aim and Objective of the Study

The study tries to
focus the criticalness of new media innovation usage among columnist in journalistic
news gathering with an endeavor to understanding its level of viability in the Nigerian
media, yet in brief terms, its;

1. To make sense
of if columnist in Minna city use advanced cell in news social affair process?

2. To recognize how
advanced mobile phone has improved news social affair process among writer in Minna?

3. To see whether
advanced cell is a dependable innovation in news gathering for journalistic creations.

4. To recognize the
components militating against the development of advanced mobile phone use in news
gathering among writer in Minna city.

1.4 Research Questions

1. Do columnists
in Minna city make utilization of advanced mobile phone in news gathering?

2. Are columnists
in Minna making powerful head route with advanced mobile phone use in news gathering
for greatest profit?

3. What is required
for the compelling use of advanced cell innovation in news gathering among writer
in Minna city?

4. To figure out
the sort of new media innovation writer in Minna lean toward in news social occasion
forms?

1.5 Justification for the Study

This study will be
of unlimited essentialness to columnists, media associations, news orgs, editors,
instructors and understudies in the field of news-casting and mass correspondence
and also different scientists who will need to leave on same study as this.

The study will help
columnists to source valuable data utilizing social networking systems administration
apparatuses and in addition furnish them with an aide on the most proficient method
to compose online stories. It will likewise help writer to collaborate with their
gathering of people and recognize their data needs. The study will likewise help
columnists who have infrequently grasped new media to do so as to build their profit.

1.6 Delimitation of the Study

The study is centered
around columnists in Minna city which may be decisive for writers in different parts
of Nigeria. Since writers offer basic qualities and aptitudes, information created
from this study and the result acquired thereof, can be connected to all columnists.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

News coverage:
this is the act of composing, altering and dispersing data to the public.media:
media in this study are Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other online networking systems
administration devices which writers utilization to assemble, impart and scatter
data to a huge heterogeneous crowd.

Advanced reporting:
it is a term used to portray the new period in news coverage where web and machines
are utilized as a part of just about every journalistic movement.

News: data about present
occasions printed in daily paper or telecast by media through print, TV and radio.

New media:
online machines and sight and sound, shaping an incorporated framework, It is a
term intended to incorporate the advanced, electronic, or arranged data and correspondence
innovations in the later piece of the twentieth century.

Reporting:
the movement of figuring out truths and utilizing the print, telecast or the web
media to tell about them.

Social networking:
the term social networking alludes to the web based informal communication sites
created to explicitly help people impart their perspectives and talking about data
among people.