CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NIGERIAN MASS MEDIA

Abstract

The society we live in these days is a fast developing one and it is characterized by various technological changes. The changes are fast encroaching into every sector of life, however the media seems to be one of the various sectors that consistently tune in to whatever form of technology seems available. The introduction of the internet is a major technological advancement in the Nigerian society which has given birth to what is referred to as the new media. The new media is the infusing of the internet functions into the traditional media which gives birth to various concepts like online newspapers, internet radio and webcasting. The paper however takes a critical look at the way the media has taken the colouration and form of the changing technology from the days of the movable type to the era of online publishing. It was predicted on the domestication theory which assumes that Many of the traditional media had a conventional way of relaying information however, over time, with the changing technology, media organizations began to adapt to the various innovations to suit their mode of operation. Also the technological determinism theory which states that media technology shapes how we as individuals in a society think, feel, act and how the society operates as we move from one technological age to another. The historical method was used to gather historical facts on the origin of the various media in Nigeria and the way they have evolved and advanced with the changing technologies to arrive where they are today. Recommendations are however made on the way the media can continue to integrate the new technologies into their traditional format so as to avoid extinction.