CLIMATE REPORTING IN RADIO NEWSROOM

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

In Nigeria, Effective climate reporting in a radio newsroom involves framing stories

around local impacts, linking climate to daily life, and emphasizing solutions to avoid audience

apathy. Newsrooms should integrate climate coverage across all beats rather than treating it as a

separate topic, and use diverse audio formats like interviews, documentaries, and talk shows.

Radio's unique ability to reach remote audiences also requires newsrooms to prioritize practical,

The media globally is saddled with certain conventional or traditional roles to keep the society

working. This entails disseminating information about events, policies, issues, and developments

locally and globally; keeping the public informed about matters that affect their lives; and

fulfilling the public’s right to know through timely, factual, and balanced reporting.

The media is also to be topnotch in crisis reporting and emergency communication. Since

climate crisis leads to emergencies such as flooding, heatwaves, wildfires, etc., citizens expect

the media to help them to make sense out of such disturbing situations by relaying to them

appropriate measures with which to reduce losses and casualties.

According to Chris (2001:7), The printing process was enhanced, and the operation time

of editing desks was decreased, thanks to technological advancements and absorption in the

newspaper sector. Because of the widespread usage of online content and services, the many-to-

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many model of information collection has surpassed the one-to-many approach. Individuals or

departments responsible with gathering information and news (Journalists) could gather

information according to their own and others' preferences.

Emails, blog sites, and online forums have further broadened the canvas of information by

allowing news from the most remote locations to be kept inside deadlines. The presence of

information systems was felt in all corners of the newsroom. It had an influence not only on the

operation of media houses and other departments, but it also gave rise to a new avatar, the

epaper.

Writing in a recent New York Times Magazine column, veteran journalist Frankel (2005:38)

prognosticates: The media companies that thrive in the twenty-first century will be those who

provide the best journalism, grasp the subjects on which they write, and develop the skill and

expertise to assess and explain a wide range of events. The burgeoning computer sector can be

trusted to improve the technology that will eventually replace their presses and delivery vehicles.

According to Tony (2004:4), The inclusion of digital inkjet checking and colour

managing has allowed media houses to manufacture goods using scattered printing facilities

while avoiding the risk of colour loss and poor print quality. The emergence of insertion and

distribution technologies that help newspapers personalise and manufacture targeted products has

given decentralised printing distribution a boost. Traditional newspapers could only convey

stories using text and photos in the past, but with the emergence of new media technologies,

reporters can now tell stories using various channels. This improves the story's credibility.

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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As a consequence, and for other reasons, the innovative technical era has increasingly

paved the way and generated influence in the communication world. As a result, and for other

reasons, great focus should be placed on buying digitalized equipment, regardless of cost. As a

result, this move will aid in increasing the quality of information and news items.

As a result, new technologies are unable to address the issues of news content and staleness in

the media, especially in the print form.

The new information technology has been met with apprehension as a relatively new and broad

field. It has sparked discussions about its innate potentials and dangers.

Ukonu (2006, p. :98). Third-world country like Nigeria have also joined the search for the best

ways to put the new information technology's capabilities to the greatest possible use. The issue

is that lack of knowledge about journalists' abilities can impair their use and adaption in today's

media industries. Media practise cannot rely just on adaptability.

The study of journalistic behaviour (fear of job safety, carrier substitution) towards ICT since

their advent in their work places has become important to confirm if the fear of job loss and

potential dangers associated with ICT are real or imagined as a significant barrier to the adoption

of technology for news reporting and Gathering

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ict on news gathering and reporting

in broad cast media in Nigeria. Other general objectives of the study are:

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1 To outline the types of ICT gadgets used in news gathering and broadcast in WAZOBIA fm

2 to examine the impact of information communication technology on news gathering and

broadcasting in Nigeria

3 to examine information communication technology and news gathering, news reporting and

news dissemination in the broad cast media

4 To examine the challenges experienced in the use of ICT in news gathering and reporting in

WAZOBIA fm.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What are the types of ICT gadgets used in news gathering and broadcast in WAZOBIA fm?

2 what is the impact of information communication technology on news gathering and

broadcasting in Nigeria?

3 what are the components of information communication technology and news gathering, news

reporting and news dissemination in the broad cast media?

4 what are the challenges experienced in the use of ICT in news gathering and reporting in

WAZOBIA fm?

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1.5 HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY

HYPOTHESIS 1

H1: Infrastructural facilities, financial resources, and training opportunities do not significantly
influence climate change reporting in radio newsrooms.

H2: Infrastructural facilities, financial resources, and training opportunities significantly

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings as a result of this study are expected to provide information that would help

radio broadcasting radio station management and media owners understand key challenges faced

by journalists in climate reporting. The study will assist policymakers, media trainers, and

development organizations in designing relevant training programs for radio journalists. The

research may enhance public understanding of climate change through improved radio news

coverage. The study will contribute to academic literature on environmental and climate change

journalism, particularly within radio broadcasting. It will form a basis for future research.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study would cover influence of internet on effective broadcasting in Nigeria (a case study of

splash fm 105.5fm)

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher was faced with the following constraints in carrying out this study:

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The time within the researcher is too short to carry on the detail study on this topic.

Another constraint of the researcher is financial resources to carry on the detail study of this

topic. This study experienced a lack of some published data to make valid study on the research

problem.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

Focusing on local impacts and solutions, using authoritative scientific sources, avoiding “doom

and gloom” scenarios, and making the complex information accessible and relevant to the

audience.

The scientific consensus on climate change is overwhelming. Reporting should reflect this fact,

and generally does not need to include a “denier” for the sake of balance, which can create a

false equivalence.

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REFERENCE

1. [Link]

2. [Link]

3. [Link]

4. Chris (2001:7)

5. Tony (2004:4)

6. Ukonu (2006:98)