Analysis of the Influence of Information and Communication Technologies on News Processing, Reporting and Dissemination on Private Radio Stations in Nigeria: Sun Rays 103.1 FM, Korinya City in Focus.

Abstract

Information and Communication technologies is considered to be a driving force to be reckoned with in the 21st century because it has caused and continues to cause major changes in the way we live. In the electronic media, ICTs has ignited and provoked radical and drastic changes that has affected and revolutionized the broadcast industry, most especially in immediacy and timeliness of news. With Information and Communication Technologies, information spread, infinitely becomes faster and cheaper and readily available. This study attempts to analyze the influence of information and communication technologies in news processing and reporting on private broadcast stations in Nigeria with emphasis on Sun Rays FM, Korinya City. The Research Design employed is the descriptive survey design. Three research questions were formulated for the study. The population for the study consisted of 380 respondents. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for gathering data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using frequency tables and simple percentage. This study uncovered some of the numerous benefits and challenges associated with the use of ICTs in news processing in broadcast industry. This study concludes that ICTs have created opportunities for widespread electronic and timely delivery of news. Furthermore, not only are there technology barriers that news organizations need to overcome to deliver news electronically, but there are also problems of employee attitudes toward new technologies and resistance to change. The implication of the use ICTs to broadcast stations might lead to an overall shrink in the need for human correspondents.