ROLE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN IMPROVING WORK EFFICIENCY OF AIT STAFF (A STUDY OF AIT ABUJA)

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1. Background of the Study

Newsroom yesterday and today are far flung different. What it is yesterday

was of Traditional method and today it spins around communication technology. It is on this premise, this study is out to find, if communication technology has actually brought about any significant change towards improving work efficiency of African Independent Television (AIT) Staff compared to what it is like before the use of communication technology in Newsroom.

Therefore, News room is seen as a floor where day to day activities of journalist takes place. It is always buzzing with shouts of we are behind programme schedule time, Reporters and Camera men trying to tie loose ends of news materials to beat deadlines.

Furthermore, Newsroom before the age of communication technologies operates mainly on analogue form, a model where journalists make use of the shots from Camera to script news items and bulletin schedules were done manually, etc.

Also, in today’s communication technological driven age, computers are seen in newsroom, teleprompters are used, journalist have access to cable television Channels, internet facilities and social media engines to monitor happenings in and around their environment. Beats reporters can communicate live via mobile telephones to newsroom staff for immediate update of news materials.

Moreso, newsroom today spins around multifaceted communication technological gadgets. But the role these gadgets play will help us to understand if it improves work efficiency of staff especially in African Independence Television, (AIT).

African Independence Television as a media outfit, in brief came to existence due to the clamour for private broadcast media in Nigeria. African Independent Television was born in 1992 when the Nigerian Government promulgated Decree No. 38, which deregulated the ownership of the electronic media in the country allowing the participation of private people to own and operate license for media outfit.

Sequel to this, Chief Raymond Dopkesi, owner of Daar Communication after obtaining license to operate private broadcast media started full blown operation in 1994.

However, according to Dopkesi vision statement for Africa Independent Television (AIT) 1993 speech paper, he said, AIT has a unique mission which is, that of sharing the Africa experience with the wider global communities.He went further, to say that this vision statement cannot be achieved except through vigorous upgrade and deployment of communication technological gadgets.

Therefore, it is pertinent to note that this study is out to find out, what role communication technology has played in newsroom to improving efficiency of African Independent Television (AIT) Staff in recent times. From the aforementioned since the mission statement of AIT, is anchored on the objective of

sharing the unique African experience with the World which is to enhance global understanding through an untainted appreciation of African and its people.

AIT, therefore, is motivated by unique altruistic aim to promote a methodically reduction of tension and friction and foster a greater appreciation of humanity, it is committed to the bridging the gap in global communication perspectives which places Africa at the ruthless mercy of Western perception untainted, undiluted and absolutely original.Therefore, African Independent Television intends to offer the world a new insight into the African experience.

1. Statement of Research Problem

Here,  effort  is  made  to  understand  so  far,  the  role  of  communication

technology in newsroom had played or playing to improving work efficiency of

AIT staff towards achieving or attaining the mission statement “Share the African experience in general.According to Terngu and Tennenge (2007,P. 27) revealed magic of communication technology tools, stating that they cover a bewildering array of inter connected forms of electromagnetic technologies, such as microelectronic optic fiber, satellite video discs, telex, and data storage mechanism all for journalist usage in newsroom.

The question therefore, is whether these communication technological gadgets have aided in improving staff efficiency in newsroom. To establish the role communication technology in AIT newsroom is playing and to what extent has it improved work efficiency of the staff.

1. Objectives of the Study

However, the objectives of the study were as follows:

1. To find out if the staff of AIT ABUJA have access to computer gadgets.

1. To find out if the staff of AIT are computer literate.

1. To determine the challenges associated with the application of computer technology.

1. To determine if communication technology in AIT Newsroom have improved work efficiency of staff.

1.4 Research Question

1. Do the staff of AIT ABUJA have access to computer gadgets?

1. Do the staff of AIT ABUJA have the required knowledge and skills in using computer gadgets?

1. What are the factors militating against the application of computer technology in AIT ABUJA Newsroom.

1. How have Newsroom Communication Technology improve work efficiency of AIT ABUJA.

1. Hypothesis

Ho:       The Staff of AIT ABUJA does not have access to computer gadgets.

Ho:       The Staff of AIT ABUJA does not have the required knowledge and skills in using computer gadgets.

Ho:       Newsroom  communication  technologies  have  ineffectively  affected  work

efficient of AIT Staff ABUJA.

1. Scope of the Study

For  clarity  and  concise,  this  study  is  basically  a  study  on  AIT  Abuja

newsroom   communication   technology   and   the   role   of    it   to   improving    work

efficiency of Staff

1. Significance of the Study

Effort is made in this study to find out whether newsroom communication

technology have improved work efficiency of AIT staff in actualizing or attaining the goal of its mission statement of sharing the African experience.

Also, show to a large extent the impact of communication technology and its utilization by staff of the AIT.

1. Operational definitions of significant terms:

It  is  of  importance  to  define  most  terms  used  in  the  study  for  clearer

understanding.

1. Newsroom: A newspaper office or radio or television station, where news stories are scripted and edited. AIT ABUJA special room for News editors, and news reporters, used for housing those involved in news coverage and packaging.

1. Communication: The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals writing or behaviour.

1. Technology: The methods and tools of AIT ABUJA News Room Staff developed by AIT Newsroom Abuja to facilitate the solution of its practical problems in their Newsroom.