Assessing The Influence of Information and Communication Technology for News Sourcing: A Case Study of Nigerian Television Authority, Jos

Abstract

The paper assessed the influence of information and communication technology (ICTs) for news sourcing by staff of NTA Jos network centre. Three research objectives and questions were guided the study. The Network social theory, developed by Manuels Castells in the 1930s was used as theoretical framework. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprises the 98 staff of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) with a sample size of 87 respondents. The convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample. The method of data analysis was mean score. Finding of the study showed that ICT has a great impact as a tool for news sourcing and dissemination. The adoption of ICTs in media reportage by NTA Jos network centre has drastically reduce harassment faced by media staff and has promote widespread of information across heterogeneous audience; a fundamental shift from the traditional method of news sourcing and dissemination. Base on the findings of the study, the study concludes that in spite the effectiveness of the tool (ICT) for news sourcing and dissemination, there seems to be no full familiarization of the practical knowledge on the use of the tool as attested by the 87 staff of NTA Jos network centre sampled for the study. Therefore, the study recommend that the government should equip the staff of the media station with adequate knowledge of technical skills needed to drive the mission of the station in terms of handling modern equipment among other recommendations.