Smartphones As Tools For News Gathering Among Journalists

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

From the perspective of Craig (2000), contemporary development in journalistic reporting related to innovation in technology inevitably attracts interest. This means that the rise of digital technology, the convergence of media into multi-media formats and the ubiquity of the internet are focal points for contemplations about recent changes in journalism and possible future direction. 

According to Belmaker (2003), say with the introduction of smart-phone technology in news gathering, has been a good news for reporters today, saying that the advent of Smartphone has made it possible for them to do part of their job with nothing more than a phone. The bad news is, the practice of ?mobile reporting? is still so much more in its infancy that there are limited resources and experts out there for guidance.

There is no doubt in this day and age that we are greatly influenced by the media. This is why most researchers have taken up the mettle in understanding its functions, and the impact it makes in changing the matters pertaining to society, the least of which is that of public opinion. The technological advancements that the modern society is characterized with, makes individuals today to experience and do things in the most efficient and effective way. The world has changed since the introduction of the computer and other technological innovations such as the smart-phone, for which Time and Space barrier have long been overcome as the need for individuals to get connected.

The staggering effect of the new media (Smartphone) innovation in the social occasion and scattering of data among columnists consequently, have offered climb to an increment in expert and beginner news coverage. The media is not restricted to simply radio, print and TV alone; the web and advanced cell telephones have made an entire new stage for the social event and dispersal of news and data inside minutes. With online networking applications, for example, facebook, twitter, Youtube, Blogs, and Website, the world can be quickly mindful of any advancement. Cell phone makes utilization of features, sounds, and pictures, to spread data speedier than any daily paper, radio or TV house. Consideration is currently on the web reportage of news and occasions, implying that things are no more the same for customary manifestations of media in the realm of which Nigeria is not forgotten. 

As of now, one of the best assets of the web is the informal communication Websites. Actually, their fame among youthful and old Nigerians has constrained media associations in the nation to make their vicinity felt on the web. This unmistakably clarifies why most daily papers and television media houses in the nation have on-line version accessible for on-line gathering of people. These media associations similarly utilize person to person communication destinations to compliment their sites. The point here is that, media associations use informal communication locales like facebook and Twitter to assemble furthermore advise on-line crowds of news and occasions. All these, plainly demonstrate how effective new media advances are and if successfully utilized will affects emphatically on journalistic news assembling and reporting. 

In any case, notwithstanding the tremendous possibilities the new media have offered reporting as a calling, the utilization in the nation is still low, particularly in the telecast media. In a late study completed by a free review outfit, Fact bound research; a part of the MMCC Group (Media and advertising correspondence organization) offers assurance to this Adewakun (2012). Intrinsic in the review report is the way that 69% of telecast stations in the nation did not have any site whatsoever. The overview similarly uncovers that 51% of the parts staff (media faculty) tested did not have admittance to machine or can't utilize machine viably. The report additionally includes that 31% of telecast houses in Nigeria have sites and in excess of 70% of their parts of staff (media work force) did not have admittance to organization email administrations, while just 49% of the staffs (media faculty) have admittance to the organization email or can utilize machine, the report uncovers. Adewakun (2012) likewise expresses that the Northern Region of the nation was the most reduced in Information and Communication Technology utilization in the media among all the areas inspected in the nation. The study in Adewakun (2012), uncovered the South-Western piece of the nation as the most elevated clients of web related offices in the media with 55%; the south-eastern part coming next with 47%; while the South-South Region advancing third position of the utilization of web related offices with 45%. The Northern Region having the most reduced in rate with just 10%. This, consequently, brings to the fore the accompanying inquiries: what is in charge of the low utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Nigerian media, with specific underlines in the Northern piece of the nation? What is the demeanor of Nigerian writers towards new media innovations? What is the demeanor of the Nigerian web group of onlookers towards on-line news substance?

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The usage of new media instruments in today's universe of correspondence, particularly news coverage among writers can't be over-looked. Since the landing of new media engineering, for example, the advanced mobile phone, it has surely changed the way columnists work furthermore how stories are created and spread. Online networking have had positive effects. However there are likewise worries about their effect on profit and antagonistic impact it could have on writers working examples. New media have made a reliance among those working in the media and a lot of people are not able to manage without them. 

New media have ended up journalistic vocabulary and it appears sourcing data has overwhelmed self advancement as an essential social action. Columnists are becoming refined in their utilization of social networking, and are for example, utilizing an extraordinary mixed bag of devices to source news. A few writers are less positive about a portion of the ways online networking influences their journalistic exercises, their engagement with their group of onlookers, their profit and the nature of their work. In light of these differentiating perspectives, the issue this exploration tries to answer is; the way successful is the utilization of new media engineering device among columnists in Minna city with respect to their journalistic obligations?