THE EFFECT OF MODERN COMMUNICATION GADGETS ON JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Communication is so central to human existence and all human activities. It would be foolhardily for any group or nation to put it in the background in its economic, political, social and other activities. Infant, we are bold to say that communication is the most vital factor in building, organizing, united and progressive nation; that without it, there will be no national development. All these can be confidently said because of the obvious fact that all human activities take place in cross-fire information flow and communication whether inter-personal, group, local, state national or international level.

Man was created to be gregarious and because of these qualities, they have always had to fall back on one another in interaction recognized as human communication.

This refers to the process of transmitting message, idea and attitudes and creating meanings between two and more people usually through the natural facilities of the voices, sensory organs, facial expressions, body manipulations and lately machine —assisted channels or devices. Even now, the important and importance of communication in our modern and sophisticated society cannot be over emphasized.

The awareness for these necessitates introduced mass communication into the world.

It is process by which a complex organization with aid of one or more machine produce and transmit message directed at large, hetrogenous, diversified and scattered audience. It is also the act of communicating to mass audience through the use of mass media such as books, newspapers, magazines, films, radio, television and computers to mention but few that the field of journalism in Nigeria have used as a medium to get information across the audience. Communication had been in existence all the while but it was never a kind of mass involvement because the world then lacked advanced equipments or gadgets that could carry these messages and information to many people at the same time (mass effect).

The great discoveries and innovations of communication gadgets from early 30's to date has changed communication from primitive kind to modern (mass) kind.

Mass communication gadgets is as old as mass communication itself because the notion of getting people involved in communication in mass would have remained in the background if the gadgets were not modern minced or advanced technological. Mass communication started with Johannes Gutenberg invention of printing press.

This invention led to proliferation of the print material such as books, newspapers and magazines, through these media more people were reached as it concerns communication came on the scene with the invention of such gadgets as radio and television.

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1.2 Statement of Problem

Modern communication gadgets is posing serious threats to our lives and also has become a challenge in modern office situation , where journalists are faced with how to manipulate the equipments which as a result is affecting their productivity . All these necessitate the researcher into the study.

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1.3 Objective of the Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate and ascertain the positive and negative effect of modern communication gadgets on journalism which may be militating against smooth operating of journalist.

1. To gain a clear understanding and accounts of the past as it concern communication gadgets.
2. To gain clearer perspective of the present as it concern communication gadgets.
3. To be able to give adequate comparism between the abetment mean of communication [gadgets] and the modern ones.
4. The implications of modern communication gadgets for Nigerian journalism.

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1.4 Research Questions

The topic and accordingly supply answers to them.

1. What are the roles that a journalist plays in the world of modern communication?
2. What is the communication equipment [oral and written to be found in a Journalists' office?
3. Are the communication equipment bringing about effect on the Journalist performance?
4. Can a journalist cope with such effect changes brought about by the communication equipment?
5. Are the communication equipment of any advantages or positive influence on the journalist?
6. Do demerits of communication equipment have influence on the journalist?

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1.5 Significant of the Study

Due to the valuable and irretrievable use of the mass media and communication devices in all departments of the life, one cannot over emphasize the significant of this study. Being a kind of historical study, it would lead to the integrated narration of past events or facts concerning all technological devices fashioned to aid communication.

This study is a contribution to already existing work on the course [advent of modern communication gadgets, and its implications for Nigerian journalism.

Every researcher who is likely to embark on any kind of research on this course would find the study very useful. This study would also be useful to communication students; it would explain adequately the advent growth and modernization of communication gadgets. Generally the study can be assimilated by all lovers of history with scientific mind of discovery and understanding situations, cases and implications. At the end of this study, the background growth and modifications of the modern communication gadgets would be carefully treated.

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1.6 Scope of the Study

In carrying out the research of this study for this project, a lot of constraints and limitations were uncounted. The mere fact that (the researcher) is embarking on this project as the first in every field that is to say that this is the deliberate act on attempt at a constructive, scientific study is in itself an understandable short coming.

Furthermore the researcher had to juggle for lectures along with the research work therefore had a restricted limited time to attend to the project work. This fact also prevented them from travelling far. For collection of facts and data. The researcher was therefore mostly compelled to use only materials available at hand and around the environment.

Most sources were very much relevant to part with documented and information's and in cases, lots of protocols were initiated before the source was made available with limited time to use them before they were back. In as much as these constraints were met, the researcher used the available sources to the best of her ability to tackle justifiably the project. Though it's not much, every bit of the project is worth the effort and truthful. The topic is a very new one so i give it all the attention one might put in reading it.

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1.7 Limitations of the Study

In this research work, there are some problems encountered which affected the progress of the research. It was difficult to get permission to be allowed to collect data from the corporation.

Several trips were made to FRCN (Enugu) to get the necessary information needed. There was also problem of cost which I managed to update from different sources. However most of the other problems were reduced by the presentation of my identity card, letter identification from my school, my being friendly with them as well as explaining the aim of the research.

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1.8 Definition of Terms

Alphabet Conceptual Definition:

A limited set of symbols that can be continued to make written words.

Amplifier Conceptual Definition:

An electronic device capable of making signals stronger.

Bell Operational Definition:

American inventor of the telephone in 1976 The world first telephone exchange using Bell's system was opened Bostom, Mast Sactusetts in 1878. Broadcasting a system for transmitting information electrically between transmitter and receiver.

Channel Operational Definition:

A term used in information science to describe the medium between any sender and receiver of information, more especially the root along which information flows including coding and decoding devices.

Curineiform Operational Definition:

An ancient pictographic script in which symbols were made by pressing shaped sticks into soft and mud tablets that were then backed hard.

Edison operational definition:

American inventors Chief among his invention were phonograph and electric lamp.

Gutenberg Johann operational definition:

German printer who perfected the act of printing from moveable type and so made possible the phenomenal growth of European publishing and printing.

Information operational definition:

The measure of the quantity of a mess Marconi Guglilimo. An Italian engineer who invented radio in 1901. Established wireless communication across the Atlantic.

Morse Samuel operational definition:

American inventors of the telegraph.

Noise conceptual definition:

undesired disturbance in any communication channels.

Press conceptual definition:

A machine for pressing together paper and an inked surface.

Record player operational definition:

An electrical device for converting the wave groove of a record into second. Symbols conceptual definition:marks with meanings.

Telephone conceptual definition:

An electrical device for transmitting the voice by wire over long distance.