CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

McGuire (2008) regarded definitions to be “stifling and yet, since we have to use words when we talk, it probably helps to sketch out occasionally what we mean by our terms”. Instead of providing a new one, he brilliantly sidestepped the issue by using Allport ’ s definition and dissecting each of its terms and phrases not only to focus on the various meanings of “ mental and neural ” and “ organized ” but also to riff on the philosophical orientations, from positivist to interactionist, that a phrase such as “ readiness to respond” evokes.

In the 2005 handbook chapter, McGuire is no more forthcoming regarding a definition, offering only that empirical investigations have used as a working definition of attitude“ responses that locate ‘ objects of thought ’ on ‘ dimensions of judgment’ Eagly and Chaiken (2003, 2008) provided a simple and intuitive definition that wins on ease and broad endorsement.

Contemporary societies could not have been conceived without the new media technologies. This is so because, the new media technologies bring us together in variety of ways that we could never have thought possible. For instance, in the 19th century it took several weeks if not months for a message to reach North America from England by ship. At the dawn of the 21 century, it could be transmitted within an hour. But today, information can be transmitted in seconds.

Surmounting one of the greatest challenges to information posed by distance with the internet today, means that people can communicate and access information anywhere in the world regardless of where they are located in the globe. A prelude to this was envisaged by the influential media critic and communication scholar, Marshall McLuhan when he noted that television is going to detribalize us by moving away from individual nation states and becoming a “global village,” (Severin & Tankard, 2001).

Prior to the 2000s the media world relied principally upon print and analogue broadcast models, especially the ones used by television and radio stations. But the last twenty-five years have been a transformation period, as rapid transformation in the sector is been witnessed. This rapid transformation in the media which is largely predicated upon the use of digital computers, such as the Internet and other portable digital devices like mobile phones, iPods, MP3 Players and so on.

However, these examples are only a small representation of new media technologies. For instance, the use of digital computers has transformed the remaining 'old' media, as suggested by the advent of digital television and online publications and propelled by the need for media convergence in a digitalized world.

        New media rely strongly on digitally powered technologies, allowing for previously separate media to converge. Media convergence is a phenomenon of new media and this can be explained as a digital media. “The idea of ‘new media’ captures both the development of unique forms of digital media, and the remaking of more traditional media forms to adopt and adapt to the new media technologies."

Flew (2002). This obviously accounts for why we see people these days watching movies in their homes on DVDs instead of videocassettes. In the same vein, people listen to music with their CD players and MP3 players instead of cassette players as it was in the recent past. The most prominent example of media convergence is the Internet, whereby the technology for the streaming of video and audio has now changed the face of broadcasting and movies rapidly.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        The attitude of broadcast journalist to new media technology is very necessary as far as the twenty first century is concerned. There is no doubt that Nigeria is still trailing behind in the race of acquisition of new media for the purpose of broadcasting and other media purposes. The pace of ICT development in Nigeria is noted that Nigeria is still sheltered into the prime level of electronic reporting when compared to the rest of the world.

The non-compliance of the broadcast stations in Nigeria in terms of usage of new media technologies is far from encouraging, when compared to some other developing countries like South Africa, India and other South American Countries.

This is certainly responsible for the sharp information imbalance between the developing countries and the developed ones in terms of news coverage and information flow. Finally, several researches has been carried out on impact of new media technology in Nigeria but not even a single research has been carried out on the attitude of broadcast journalist to new media technology.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to examine the attitude of broadcast journalist to new media technology. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the factors affecting broadcast journalist attitude and its effect on new media technology.
2. to determine the extent to which attitude of broadcast journalist affects new media technology.
3. to determine the influence of broadcast journalist attitudes on new media technology.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS               

1. What are the factors affecting broadcast journalist attitude and its effect on new media technology?
2. What is the extent to which attitude of broadcast journalist affects new media technology?
3. What is the influence of broadcast journalist attitudes on new media technology?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:      Attitude of broadcast journal has no significant effect on new media message.

H1:         Attitude of broadcast journal has a significant effect on new media message.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on the attitude of broadcast journalist to new media technology will be of immense benefit to the entire broadcasting sector in the country in the sense that it will give direction on how to gradually transform from the present analogue state of broadcasting in Nigeria and embrace a broadcasting environment that is driven by modern Information and Communication Facilities as obtainable in western countries. It would also avail the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with full information in its quest for the phasing out of analogue broadcasting equipment in the country. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on the attitude of broadcast journalist is limited to new media technology.

1.8   LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Attitude  A settled way of thinking or feeling about something.

Broadcast        Is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), in a one-to-many model.

Journalist       A journalist is a person who collects, writes, or distributes news or other current information to the public. A journalist's work is called journalism.  

Media      Is the collective communication outlets or tools used to store and deliver information or data.

New Media       According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (7th ed.).New Media means new information and entertainment technologies, such as the Internet, CD-ROMs and Digital Television. On the other hand McQuail (2005) simply defines the “new media as a disparate set of communication technologies that shares certain features apart from being new made possible by digitalization and being widely available for personal use as communication devices.

Technology     Is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.