Attitude of broadcast journalists towards digital broadcasting in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the attitudes of broadcast journalists towards digital broadcasting in Abia State. The major objective was to determine the attitude of broadcast journalists in Abia State toward the digitalisation process. Thus, the diffusion of innovation theory and technological determinism theory were used as framework to study a population of 201 journalists; being registered journalists in all the broadcast stations in Abia State. The survey research design was used to conduct a census study, considering the manageable number of participants. Face-to-face interview and questionnaire administration were used to elicit and collect data from the broadcast journalists. It was found that majority of the journalists embraced the digital process by exhibiting positive attitudes towards the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. It was also found that lack of awareness on the part of the general public as well as poor financing on the part of government and stakeholders constituted the major challenges to the transition process. According to the journalists, total digitalisation may result in unemployment and low patronage from the general public which are likely to arise because of envisaged inability to acquire digital tools. It was concluded that broadcast journalists in Abia State have positive attitudinal dispositions towards digital broadcasting. It is recommended that journalists should be trained to acquire skills in preparation for optimised digital broadcasting. Also, awareness should be created among the general public about the process and its implications.