Thesis Abstract

Thesis Overview

This study is based on smart-phone utilization in news gathering, with specific focus on media organizations in Minna, Niger State. The study became imperative because despite the enormous potentials of new media technologies in relation to effective journalism, most media organizations in the country are still lagging behind. Survey method was adopted in gathering responses from respondents. Purposive sampling technique was adopted and used to distribute a hundred and eighty six copies of questionnaire to the three sampled media organizations in Minna that is used for the study. When analyzing the research questions, results indicated that majority of journalists in Minna, said new technologies had improved the quality of the media organizations production. So many of the journalists were aware of the relevance of new media technologies in journalism, but a large number of media organizations in Minna don’t organize special training for staff on how to use new media technologies. The study, therefore, recommends amongst others that media managers should plan and execute periodic training for staff (journalists) on effective use of the smart-phone as a new media technology tools in journalistic news gathering.