CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In the recent years, fast developing technology has been fuelling an information revolution. The mobile media, digital broadcasting and the internet are sweeping away the limitations of the analogue world and weakening the grip of government-owned platforms. The nature of the relationship between the broadcaster and its audience is changing. Mobile media in this information age provides an immediate, informative, intelligent, interactive platform for discussion and debate. Mobile media is essentially a cyber-culture with modern computer technology, digital data controlled by software and the latest fast developing communication technology. Most technologies described as “mobile media” are digital, and often have characteristics of being networkable, dense, compressible, interactive and impartial. Examples are the internet, websites, computer multimedia, games, CD-ROMs and DVDs. Young people are attracted to the easy means of getting information with internet based terminals or hand phones which provide them information of their choice anytime, anywhere. They need not have to wait for any broadcasting schedule to be connected to get the information. Internet blogs, news portals and online news, Facebook, You Tube, podcast and webcast, and even the short messaging system (SMS), are all mobile media. The modern revolution enables everybody to become a journalist at little cost and with global reach. Nothing like this has ever been possible before. The impact of mobile media has been noticed by governments in some developing countries where seats have been lost in the Senates and Parliaments due to the impact of the mobile media’s uncensored, audience penetration and interactive tendencies. For example, when the government depended on the mainstream media which it controlled to give information to the electorates, while the opposition used the mobile media which was uncensored, faster, cheaper and reached a bigger audience. Ironically it was the same government that had spent billions of dollars to foster the growth of the mobile media technology (Nagasvare & Krishnasamy, 2011). However, it cannot be denied that the first media revolution was characterised by newsprint, while the second by radio, TV and internet, hence it is undeniable that the third media revolution, where professional media competes for attention alongside user-generated blogs, YouTube and Qik videos and Twitter, poses quite a conundrum (Silicon Republic Knowledge and Events Management Ltd, 2009).

STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM

The current poor situation of the conventional media ever since the advent of the mobile or new media has taken a serious dimension as it has led to poor journalism and media profession in Nigeria. the survival of the conventional media in Nigeria has been subject to a lot of debate in recent times as some school of thought have blamed the poor situation of conventional media on governments neglect and lack of funding while others have also come to blame the media stakeholders across the country. The poor state of the conventional media has not been good for mass media growth and development in Nigeria especially at the current Nigerian situation where the mass media ought to play a critical role in the nation’s unity and political stabilization.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine the impact of mobile media and the survival of conventional media in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the current state of conventional media in Nigeria.
2. To assess the need for a robust conventional media in Nigeria.
3. To examine the influence of mobile media on the survival of conventional media.
4. To recommend ways of ensuring the survival of conventional media in Nigeria.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the impact of mobile media on the survival of conventional media in Nigeria?
2. What is the current state of conventional media in Nigeria?
3. Is their need for a robust conventional media in Nigeria?
4. What are the ways of ensuring the survival of conventional media in Nigeria?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no significant influence of mobile media on the survival of conventional media.

H1: There is a significant influence of mobile media on the survival of conventional media.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would be of immense importance to the growth and development of both the conventional and mobile media in Nigeria since the media has a critical role to play in National integration. The study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing a further study on the subject matter.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted on the impact of mobile media and the survival of conventional media in Nigeria using African television authority (AIT) Lagos state as a case study.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.