The Impact Of Internet on the
Nigerian Society
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The main aim of this project is to
discuss about the impact of the internet on journalism to the citizenry, is
also going to deal with the effective performance of the internet- as a medium
of disseminating and gathering of news. It is important as imperative to state
out clearly under this introduction how the internet has been able to play an
impact or touch the lives of journalist and individuals as a whole. The project
work will include the historical background of the punch newspaper and the
duties it has performed to carry along the people of Nigeria.
It is possible for all sundry to
under rate the performance of the intent, because it informs the citizens of
the happening (event) around and outside their metropolis, be it political,
economic and social functions, internet can not be set outside. Government,
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individual even business men cannot do without the
existence of internet due to its widely spread medium of communication, which
emerged in the 1990, government use internet to furnish the citizens with the
latest development in the state, while business men also employed the internet
services to advertise and form the article of production to their prospective
buyers.
The internet has an impact on every
aspect of journalism. The internet has emerged as a medium of publication, a
new tool for reporting and a new focus for journalism education. Moreover the
internet has raised new question about the social responsibilities of
journalism to inform the public as well as the ethical practice of journalism.
Finally the internet is an international medium consequently, it is impact has
been felt around the globe. The explosive rate at which the internet has
penetrated every aspect of journalism has made it an endless topic of
speculation, and debate among journalists, scholars, and the general public.
But since it is so new, there has been little time for systematic study and
analysis.
1.1
BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
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The internet has placed a very vital
role in every aspect of journalism. Because it has been a medium of publication
in terms of news reporting and direction for journalism education. It has also
been used to find out new facts about the social and economic responsibilities
of journalists, in the aspect of ethical practice of journalism. This has made
the internet to be felt all over the world, because of the wide spread impact
on people. This impact has contributed a lot to the printing organization in
terms of gathering and sourcing for vital useful information needed by the
printing and mass media organization, in order to have accurate facts in their
news stories before publication. This will bring about the impact of the
internet on the punch news paper, because this news paper has really affect the
lives of individuals, government and even business men and women who can not do
without the news paper in order to get factual information on things of event
happening around and far countries in the world.
The Punch news paper started with the
Sunday Punch on 28th March, 1973 in Lagos, about three years after the coming
of the Sunday Punch, and the daily publication of the Punch news
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paper joined on 1st November 1976. The brain child of
this print media organization is Chief Olu Aboderin. From the day this news
paper joined the chain of other existing news paper in Nigeria, it has been
making waves; Infact, everyone knows that this news paper is a frontline paper.
Since then it has grown from strength to strength despite administration
tendency of successive military government in Nigeria. Today Punch ia an
example of a typical radical news paper. The punch news paper joined the online
news paper by opening a website in the year 2003, and since then people living
in other countries have been able to visit their website. From the public as
well as the ethical practice of journalism. Finally, the internet is an
international medium. Consequently, its impact has been felt around the globe
The explosive rate at which the internet has penetrated every aspect of
journalism has made it an endless topic of speculation and debate among
journalists, scholars and the general public. But since it is so new, there has
been little time for systematic study and analysis. The brainchild of this
print media organization is Chief Olu Aboderin, He started with the Sunday
Punch on 28th March, 1973 in Lagos about three
years
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after coming of Sunday Punch, the daily publication of the
Punch joined on 1 November, 1976.
From the day this paper joined the
chains of other existing news paper in Nigeria, it has been making waves,
infact, everyone knows that Punch news paper s are frontline papers.
Since then, it has grown from
strength despite administration tendency of successive Military Government in
Nigeria. Today, Punch is an example of a typical radical paper. ‘ The Punch
news paper joined the online news paper by opening a ‘website in ‘ the year
two-thousand and three (2003), and since then people living in other countries
have been able to visit their website. The Punch news paper is classified in
journalism as the serious press, before it was known under the popular press.
The Punch rows paper has the ideal department in a news
paper house. These are:
a.
The
editorial Department
b.
The
Mechanical/ Production Department.
c.
The Commercial/Marketing Department.
d.
The
Administration/Personnel Department.
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They have also included one
department which emerged as a result of advancement in technology, and this
department is called the Computer Operations/ Internet Department. The
department does all the internet jobs. They build website for the organization,
publish the news paper and animating the electronic newspaper. They are skilled
who are advancing with the new technology. Receive information for journalist
and they also gather foreign website.
1.2
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
This research work is form by this innovation
in practice of journalism especially the introduction of maternity in segment
in almost every programme being aired on public and private newspaper. The
consequence of having a wrong choice of audience is better imagined. This would
only make journalism have a negative feedback since there are some audience to
participate to discussions that are not meant for them. There is no controversy
that radio and television stations are out to perform the basic role of
informing, entertaining and educating the target audience.
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However, the lure including journalism in segment in most
of the programmes is capable of rendering them.
The excessive journalism in segment
is equally seen as an escapist approach of getting the people to participate in
programmes even when they were not adequately informed of such.
The researcher has put into writing
the way by which all sort of problems confronting the internet service in
Nigeria can be put under control. The idea that is suggested as a possible way
of explaining that particular condition will be helpful.
1.3
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1.
To what extent do Nigerian Journalists have the requisite
skill for online journalism?
2.
Does online journalism have negative effect(s) on
newspaper/magazine circulation?
3.
Is it true that online journalism is the fastest means of
disseminating information?
4.
Does online journalism have an advantage on news
gathering?
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1.4
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of this study is to inform Nigerians, journalism
at large, the usefulness and importance of internet
service to their organizations and its impact perhaps negative or positive.
The purpose of this study is to know
explicit about the paramount functions expected of the internet service in
Nigeria on political status, Economic growth of the nation and social
activities.
It shall also discuss how the press
had managed to work successfully under this medium without going against the
code of conduct that institutionalized the corporation; also the researcher
want the people to know the effect it has on the citizens.
1.5
SIGNIFICANT
OF THE STUDY
Certainly, the study is significant
because it will help the
audience, ultimately, the news consumption to understand
the difficulties online journalist are facing in disseminating unseating news
story. This can arouse the audience interest in correcting the
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government
of the day to give press freedom of reporting news story on the internet.
1.6
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This project will corner the problems
facing journalism as a result of the internet service, what are the problems
faced by journalists? The functions of the internet medium, possible remedies
to the problems they will face or are facing. Also, the impact of internet
service to the people at local areas of Nigeria.
1.7
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
This project will study limited
number of factors which can make people at local level know or see what is
exactly going on within and outside their metropolis in time.