CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of
Study
Human existence would have been meaningless without
Information and Communication. Ideas, values, policies and every aspect of
socio-cultural, political and economic obligation within the human environments
would have been difficult to achieve without adequate dose of information and
communication, Daramola (2003). As a result, information acts as grease for
lubricating the entire society. However, the invention of modern means of
communication with the help of civilization made possible with the advancement
of science and technology, the world has gradually become a ‘global village’.
Ekwelie and Okonkwo (1983) in Ukonu (2008) recorded that “at
one time, man depended on iron and wooden gong, the town crier for the
exchange, transmission and dissemination of information and vital news,” but
after the second world war, a great leap was made from this tasking mode of
information dissemination to a more advanced, mechanized method of transmitting
message or news.
Broadcasting came to Nigeria in stages, one of which was the
introduction of wired broadcasting more popularly known as radio distribution
or re-diffusion in 1939 by the colonial government of British Broadcast
Co-operation (BBC) to redistribute its programme by means of wires connected to
loudspeakers installed in various homes of subscribers, Ukonu (2008). It was
developed in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1920’s and exported to their
colonies. However, its introduction to Nigeria was on the initiative of the
engineers of the post of telegraph department in Lagos who had been involved in
monitoring the transmission of the BBC on short wave, Ukonu (2008). Since then,
the Nigerian mass media industry has witnessed a phenomenal growth since the
establishment of Nigeria Broadcasting Service in 1957 and the country’s first
television station, set up by the then government of the former western region
in 1959, (Daramola, 2003). He explained further that the establishment of
western Nigerian Broadcasting Service combined Radio and African first
Television service triggered a race by the other two regions to setup theirs.
The information and Communication as a loose term in describing ways in which
people, machines and communication system can work together to make jobs
quicker, more efficient and more accurate, (Mbam: 2002).
Siegfried Mandel (1962) stated that the world crossed into
“information superhighway”, and it is this information superhighway that has
tremendously changed the role of communication and information dissemination in
the society. Today, with the help of great innovation and scientific
inventions, mass communication has been revolutionized with the help of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), (Mbam: 2002). Now we talk
about satellite transmission and communication, computer communication, digital
broadcasting system, computer, internet information and Communication, digital
cellular phones (like GSM), fibre optics, microwave technologies, radio visual
systems, robots enterprise software among others.
When Marshal McLuhan talked about the global village many
years ago, people at that time thought he was a joker. The new communication
technologies have made people become increasingly involved in one another’s
life. As Baran, (2009) observes, technologies is not itself a medium but a
social force that brings changes to the media world. Therefore, communication is
any artifacts manipulated by man to aid him communicate interpersonally or
massively, Baran (2009).
The impact of the information and communication technology
on media industry has improved as information can reach people around the world
within seconds, for instance, digital technology has placed us at a point of a
new significant way of development in the history of human communication often
called “the Information society” and has transformed the way many men and women
work in the media industry, Baran, (2009). Also, information can be sent all
around the world within seconds with the new technologies, and news can reach
people when it happens.
Information and Communication Technologies have made it
possible for dissemination of information evenly and to a wide range of
audience especially with the advent of GSM in Nigeria, both the literate,
illiterate, urban and rural dwellers alike are kept abreast of vital issues,
thereby closing up communication gap or information, (Mbam: 2002). Therefore,
in realization of this view, it interests the researchers to assess the
application of Information and Communication Technologies in the Globe FM
Bauchi Broadcasting Service (GFMB) station and Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC).
1.2. Statement of
the Research Problem.
The new information and communication technologies have been
acknowledged by some scholars as the threshold of globalizing the world.
Information Technology acts as a great facilitator in globalizing, uniting the
disintegrated world and enabling people to gain access to knowledge and
services, Baran, (2009). There is no doubt that the world is becoming
homogenous and differences between people are distinguishing. So, there is need
for the Nigeria media to live up to the challenges.
There are many opinions that Globe FM Bauchi and Bauchi
Radio Corporation station cannot compete well with the rest of its counterparts
in Nigeria because of so many teething problems such as lack of facilities,
obsolete equipment, inadequate training, poor finance and government
interference. As a result, this research will investigate these assertions to
ascertain the truth of the matter. Moreover, it will go further to find out
whether the application of information and communication technologies has
impacted on or enhanced the operation of Broadcast media organizations in
Nigeria with respect to Globe FM and Bauchi Radio Corporation.
1.3. Objectives of
Study
To ascertain the level of application of ICTs in FRCNBauchi and BRC Bauchi.
To identify the factors responsible for that level of ICTs
application in FRCN and BRC Bauchi.
To assess the implication of the present level of ICTs
application in FRCN and BRC Bauchi.
To recommend ways of improving the adoption and enhanced
application of ICTs in FRCN and BRC Bauchi
1.4 Research Questions
What is the level of application of ICTs in FRCN and BRC
Bauchi?
What are the factors responsible for FRCN and BRC Bauchi
level of ICTs application?
What is the implication of the present level of ICTs
application on FRCN and BRC Bauchi?
What practical measures could be taken to enhance the
application of ICTs in FRCN and BRC Bauchi?
1.5 Significance
of the Study
The findings of this study will be of benefit to media
outfits that adopt and make use of ICT in their operations. It is hoped that
the findings of this work will not only add to the knowledge in the area of
human communication system, but also provoke further research in this very
interesting area of ICT. The study will also solve the riddle of how far the
technological knowhow has improved the power of communication in Bauchi and
Nigeria at large. The research work would also serve as a source of reference
for media practitioner as it will help improve the standards of media house
through new communication technology. The study will also be of benefits for
scholars as it is a material for academic exercise. Also, to the information
technologists by providing better ways of broadcasting through the available
new media and to the researcher of mass communication as it will serve as
reference material for them.