Although the term journalism has been traditionally used to refer to news practitioners in the print media (journals, newspapers, magazines), it will however be used in this context to also include electronic media (Radio, TV, film, Web, etc).
Times and things have indeed changed. Globalization has since become a buzz word, and has brought with it change and competition. People's lives have been variously affected either for the better or for the worse.
Regarding the way that journalists do their (news gathering) work, the internet has made things easier. Photojournalists in Nigeria are now able to use Internet facilities such as emails to upload pictures to newsrooms from distant locations.
The Guardian's website and chatroom is a rallying point for Nigerians at home and abroad to meet and discuss common issues of national importance.
It can be said therefore that the Nigerian media are measuring up with their counterparts in other parts of the world by their maintaining strategic presence on the information super highway. However, other facilities and resources are still largely unavailable to Nigerian journalists.
For examples, company sponsored laptop computers with mobile internet access, digital recording devices, open access mobile telephones, plus salaries that take into consideration global trends, market prices and National inflation rates.
It can be argued that in a way, that the internet has led to a decrease in the revenue of some of the media organizations in Nigeria, while at the same time increasing their cost, as money would have to be invested into setting such websites, and also paying the staff that would constantly maintain them.
However, if we are to go by global trends which foretell an increase in internet advertising usage and revenues, then any incidental cost will eventually be offset by the expected revenues, hopefully.
Nigerian advertisers have not yet started taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the internet, to advertise their products and services in the websites of some of these media organizations. Only a few advertisers are doing this at the moment. It was hoped that such advertisements may actually increase so that the free news now readily available on the internet can be subsidized, and also to make up for the shortfall from the hard copy sales.
Some people have argued that the internet has to some extent greatly reduced the "worth" and "value" of Nigerian journalists. This is because of the wide availability of some internet bloggers and pundits who are more than happy to have their articles and views published in newspapers. These pseudo-journalists would not normally demand any payment and get their fulfillment from their 'one minute of fame.' They normally would have views on just about anything, and usually written from a 'professional' standpoint, thereby widening the debate for social, economic and political reforms even further.
Blogging platforms provide in terms of the discourse in the comments (and while many complain of the quality of the comments, it's still a forum for discourse that does push a story further). Journalists and others often use the Blogging platform to tell more stories or to expand on a story that was edited for size. It's not uncommon for traditional media outlets to publish the audio/video interviews that were used to create the news pieces. Those extras are frequently published on a Blog or Podcast platform.
In conclusion, I'd want to say that the internet is still evolving in Nigeria. It is yet to reach the adoption levels already achieved in the Western countries. It's my humble submission that journalists should embrace its use fully, while at the same time taking full advantages of the opportunities it presents, as can be seen in more developed countries.
Times and things have indeed changed. Globalization has since become a buzz word, and has brought with it change and competition. People's lives have been variously affected either for the better or for the worse.
Regarding the way that journalists do their (news gathering) work, the internet has made things easier. Photojournalists in Nigeria are now able to use Internet facilities such as emails to upload pictures to newsrooms from distant locations.
The Guardian's website and chatroom is a rallying point for Nigerians at home and abroad to meet and discuss common issues of national importance.
It can be said therefore that the Nigerian media are measuring up with their counterparts in other parts of the world by their maintaining strategic presence on the information super highway. However, other facilities and resources are still largely unavailable to Nigerian journalists.
For examples, company sponsored laptop computers with mobile internet access, digital recording devices, open access mobile telephones, plus salaries that take into consideration global trends, market prices and National inflation rates.
It can be argued that in a way, that the internet has led to a decrease in the revenue of some of the media organizations in Nigeria, while at the same time increasing their cost, as money would have to be invested into setting such websites, and also paying the staff that would constantly maintain them.
However, if we are to go by global trends which foretell an increase in internet advertising usage and revenues, then any incidental cost will eventually be offset by the expected revenues, hopefully.
Nigerian advertisers have not yet started taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the internet, to advertise their products and services in the websites of some of these media organizations. Only a few advertisers are doing this at the moment. It was hoped that such advertisements may actually increase so that the free news now readily available on the internet can be subsidized, and also to make up for the shortfall from the hard copy sales.
Some people have argued that the internet has to some extent greatly reduced the "worth" and "value" of Nigerian journalists. This is because of the wide availability of some internet bloggers and pundits who are more than happy to have their articles and views published in newspapers. These pseudo-journalists would not normally demand any payment and get their fulfillment from their 'one minute of fame.' They normally would have views on just about anything, and usually written from a 'professional' standpoint, thereby widening the debate for social, economic and political reforms even further.
Blogging platforms provide in terms of the discourse in the comments (and while many complain of the quality of the comments, it's still a forum for discourse that does push a story further). Journalists and others often use the Blogging platform to tell more stories or to expand on a story that was edited for size. It's not uncommon for traditional media outlets to publish the audio/video interviews that were used to create the news pieces. Those extras are frequently published on a Blog or Podcast platform.
In conclusion, I'd want to say that the internet is still evolving in Nigeria. It is yet to reach the adoption levels already achieved in the Western countries. It's my humble submission that journalists should embrace its use fully, while at the same time taking full advantages of the opportunities it presents, as can be seen in more developed countries.