INTRODUCTION
Mbadugha (2000:48) defined information technology (IT) as the application of technology to information management. He stated that in recent years there has been many examples of media house in Nigeria who apply IT resources in their operations (e.g NTA).
Udoma (1999:57) reported that information is an extremely valuable resource. This implies that any individuals or organization that has current and useful information is regarded as being very powerful.
Organizations, particularly the media houses are information processing entities. This justifies the huge investment in research development (R and D) in the area of information generation and processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination, particularly in the advance economics.
Information is thus jealously gathered, loaded shared freely or sold, depending upon the motive of the possessor.
In the media industry, which is characterized by high level of competition, success is to a large extent dependent on the speed and efficiency of communication.
Information technology (IT) provides near limitless possibilities of increasing the quantity and enhancing the quality, speed and availability of information in a complex but inter-dependent world of Business Communication (Anyakora, 1998:77). The idea of information technology dates back to the earliest time. The earliest form of writing (Cuneiform), for example, was invented in 35 B.C. Nwadamma (1997:78) reported that Tiro invented shorthand in 63 B.C. He equally noted that Henry Mill patented the typewriter in 1994, while the principles of the modern day facsimile (fax) transmission was patented by Brain Way Back in 1843.
Hence, as regards information technology, what is new therefore is the impressive array and sophistication of information technology resources, its increasing efficiency, reliability, speed, accuracy, cheapness, portability and ubiquity, made possible by micro processors.
The microprocessors are inexpensive, extremely efficient and miniaturized information processing units- a phenomenal invention of information technology.
In advanced economics (such as in USA, Britain, Japan and Canada) information technology has become more visible and more widely applied: thus revolutionizing the process of producing and reproducing data, information and knowledge, as well as distributing them.
Microprocessor- Fitted devices (products about everywhere in these countries and come in diverse configuration-wrist- watches, pocket calculators, electronic cash registers, computers and so on.
Thus operational activities within organization and their subsidiaries, as well as between them and their various public client; reporters, suppliers, shareholder, private and government agencies- are fast becoming and increasingly exciting experience (Okeke, 1999). Information technology (IT) is increasingly helping wake information an extremely mobile resource. Hence, for those media houses that have the facilities (that is IT resources) the world is fast shrinking into a “distance – less” wond.
The advent of information technology (IT) in Nigeria had revolutionaries the information/communication sector of the nations economy media houses and media practitioner could as a result of this, transmit messages, ideas and information between one part of the country to another, and even across the national boundaries by the application of IT resources such as the facsimile (Fax) machine, the internet as well as the use of the global system for mobile communication (GSM) in Nigeria, however people seldom appreciate the benefit of IT resources especially in the information /communication sector.
Then questions then are: what are the areas of application of IT resources in television broadcasting communication? How does the use of IT resource affect the operational efficiency of the Nigeria television broadcasting houses? What are the constraints to effective utilization of IT resources in television broadcasting in Nigeria? These questions presented the problem that necessitated this study.
The objectives of this study are as follows:
The findings and recommendations of this research, if implemented will benefit both the television houses and television broadcasting practitioners in NTA, Nigeria. It will expose the television houses to the vast opportunities available in the areas of IT as regards information generation and dissemination.
This will reduce the cost of gathering and dissemination of information by the television houses/television broadcasting practitioners. It would equally increase their number of Nigerians that would have access to vital information.
The scope of this research border on information technology (IT) and the changing role of television broadcasting in Nigeria, the bordering of this research also extended to include the various IT resources being used by the television practitioner and television houses in Nigeria. This research is limited to the staff of the NTA Enugu.