CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The 21ist century has brought along with it a long list of new technologies. No doubt, the mass media are not left out in this technologies revolution.

Unequivocally the existence of the mass media in contemporary society cannot be under rated. This is so because the mass media are basically created to serve or meet the needs of man.

The internet is today one of the most effective means of communication as a new mass medium and a forceful one too, which has because an integral part of the mass media. It is not only a mass medium but it is also a global medium with a potential to reach ever one on the globe. The internet has increased confutation for newspapers and changed the way news is distributed. In directly has influence adverting trends, reader behavior and the rise of disruptive technologies. As a result, newspapers have been forced to integrate with the web and now approximately 80% of newspapers publishers have integrated web and print operation. (Patel 2010). Apparently, the internet word statistics for 2016 shows that Nigeria has the largest internet user in Africa ; having 19.21 million internet users, Egypt has the second largest internet users rate ; having 48.3 million internet users followed by Kenya which has 31.99 millions. (January 2016). As sources from www.statista.com

Meanwhile, it is apparent that 98% of the newspapers firms in Nigeria create room for their newspaper editions on the internet. This is basically done to fit into the competiting trend of globalization in this contemporary society.

According to Okoro and Diri (2012), there is speculation that the contents of online edition of newspapers satisfy readers needs for information and solve down the drive for the print version thus, in spite of the seeming successes of the internet as a news medium questions has been raised about the credibility online news (Lasicased 1998 and online news Association, 2002). These concerns are significant in that journalism is built on the principles of credibility. The public is likely not to pay attention to a medium that they do not trust because trust is a factor in news reporting.  Johnson and kaye (1998) caution that lack of trust In information obtained form the internet could keep it from becoming an even more important and influential news source the issues which many online newspaper readers had to grapple with is that of the credibility of the news sources and the identification of the reporter or authors of the internet stories. The internet has not only come to revoluturize the dissemination of information by the mass media but also seriously altered the traditional processes of news gathering and processing. Nigerian newspapers may have gone to the internet partly as a means of reaching out to the outside world and partly as a way of not being left out of the information advantages which the internet has brought to the print industry globally and most importantly as a result of the threats from the broadcast industry.

          According to Baran (2004, P.1210:

Television forced the newspaper

                                      To change the way they did business

                                      And served their readers, now online

                                      Computer networks pose the greatest

                                      Challenge to this medium.

                                      Online job hunting and auto sales

                                      Services are already cutting into

                                      The classified advertising profit

                                      Newspapers.

The entire world is fast embracing information and communication technologies in all spheres lift and the newspaper industry cannot be left out. The changing face of the newspaper industry. Could not have been what we have today if not for the convergence between the newspaper and the modern technologies adopted in the industry. On the issue of convergence, Baran (2004) notes that technology has led to newspapers all over the world reinventing themselves and becoming  more user friendly, more casual, more lifestyle – oriented, and more in touch with youths.

1. 1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

With the rapid grow and development of the newspaper industry, the quality of online newspaper version keep improving. This rapid improvement in the online version of newspaper integrated towards reaching the audience at comfort. Since the world is going technological, the newspapers should not be left behind.

With regards the inconveniences/ factors surrounding the patronage/ readership of traditional newspaper individuals turn to the online version to a sasses news stories.  But what is not certain here is whether lecturers in heritage polytechnic read online newspaper. And even if they do, to what extent? It is hereby on this crux that this study lies.

1. 1. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following were the objectives of the study:

1. To determine the extent to which heritage polytechnic lecturers are exposed to online newspaper publications.
2. To ascertain what interest lecturers in heritage polytechnic must to read online newspaper.
3. To examine the frequency of online newspaper readership among lecturers in heritage polytechnic Eket.
4. To find out the factor which influence online newspaper readership among lecturers in heritage polytechnic.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were for mutated:

1. To what extent are lecturers in heritage polytechnic exposed to online newspaper readership?

1. What interest Heritage polytechnic lecturers most to read online newspaper?
2. What is the frequency of online newspaper readership among lecturers in Heritage polytechnic?
3. What factor(s) influence(s) online newspaper readership among lecturers in Heritage polytechnic?

1. 1. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Online newspaper readership is a subject that has over years, been discovered by scholars, to ascertain its effect on society and on the newspaper industry itself. Online newspaper readership has been looked upon as the rationale behind the success or failure of any newspaper. Though online newspaper readership represents a small percentage of newspaper readership. In its entirely its important can never be over accentuated.

Meanwhile, this study will be of immense interest to newspaper organizations as it will help them know how imperative. It is to have their online versions so as to satisfy the urging interest f her readers. Also, this study will be of great importance as it will help the various newspaper organizations to appreciate what exactly their readers want online, so that they can on the online version.

Finally, this study will serve as a source of reference material for future researchers who may deem it fit to delude into this area of study.

1. 1. DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was restricted to determining online newspaper readership among lecturers in Heritage polytechnic. It was not intended to cover the online readership of newspaper among staff of Heritage polytechnic. It is hoped that such delimitation would enhance objectivity liability and validity of the research work.

1. 1. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Behind every successful research work there are a thousand and one constraints researchers are usually confronted with a number of militating factors in the course of their research studies, this researchers were not spared the troubles, as they had their fair share of difficulties imposed by the situation surrounding this study.

Most prominent among the limitations was the negative attitude of some of the respondents towards the questionnaire. Some lecturers relied positively to the questionnaire while some said they were too busy to respond to certain questions. This attitude could be limited to the success of this work as half-truths may not be completely excussed.

1. 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms were defined operationally to enhance clarity:

Heritage Polytechnic: this is the universe of the study. It is an institution of higher learning offering courses in various vocational and technical subject in diploma and higher national diploma.

Lecturers: These are group of intellectuals who give lectures, especially as an occupation in Heritage polytechnic.

Newspaper Readership: This is the act of reading newspapers by lecturers in Heritage polytechnic, especially the online publications.

Online: This is news convent made available by newspaper organization on the internet for readership.