Appraising the Influence of Information and Communication Technology on Television News Reporting in Select Stations in North Central Nigeria

Abstract:

This study, utilizing the Social Shaping of Technology model, aimed to evaluate the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on television news reporting within select stations in North Central Nigeria. Employing a survey research design, an online questionnaire distribution method was employed, resulting in a sample size of 90 respondents, with 78 valid responses for analysis. The findings uncovered that the newsroom personnel in the examined stations possess proficiency in utilizing various ICT tools and resources.

Moreover, the study identified that respondents frequently employ ICT facilities such as routers, scanners, smartphones, computers, memory cards, iPads, digital gadgets, and internet applications, including social media platforms, blogs, vlogs, live video streaming, conferencing technology, group wikis, podcasts, web chats, and email, as integral components of their news reporting tasks. The results also demonstrated that ICTs have been extensively integrated into news reporting practices within the investigated stations, yielding a substantial impact on the quality and efficiency of news delivery.

The study however, revealed that the integration of ICTs into news reporting comes with its set of challenges, including issues related to unreliable power supply, inadequate network infrastructure, and the high costs associated with procuring ICT tools and software, particularly data.

In conclusion, ICTs have significantly expanded the horizons for electronic and timely news dissemination in Nigeria. Nonetheless, these advancements are not without obstacles. The study recommends that media organizations, as they pursue digitalization, should modernize their operations, provide digital equipment to employees, and embrace new technologies to enhance information gathering, processing, and dissemination.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICTs), television, news, reporting, appraisal.