Utilization of Social Media for Effective Journalism Practice UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR EFFECTIVE JOURNALISM PRACTICE BY BROADCAST JOURNALISTS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA: AN ASSESSMENT
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Date
2018
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Volume Title
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ILORIN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
Abstract
The practice of journalism across the world has been greatly affected with the evolution of social
media to the effect that journalists could not efficiently practice today without its usage. However,
in spite of the usefulness of social media in the present day journalism practice, couple with the
fact that it has become the most preferred platform in accessing daily news by the citizens, there is
inadequate studies in this area of research in Kwara State, Nigeria. Thus, this study examined the
utilization of social media for effective journalism practice by the broadcast journalists in Kwara
State, Nigeria. The descriptive research of the survey type was adopted. The population comprised
of 154 journalists while a total enumeration was used out of which 133 responded to the
questionnaire representing (86.36%). The findings revealed that the most utilized social media
tools were Facebook 133 (100%), Twitter 133 (100%), WhatsApp 133 (100), YouTube 133
(100%), Instagram 129 (96.99%) and Flicker 124 (93.32%) while usage has improved the speed of
news production 133 (100%), reaching out to people in position of information 133 (100%), news
and stories verification 126 (94.74%). Lack of gatekeepers 133 (100%), lack of credibility of
stories 133 (100%) and ethical problems 126 (94.74%) were the constraints to utilization. The
study concluded that the journalists reflected daily usage of social media tools while usage has
positively improved journalism practice, It therefore recommended that journalists should consider
usage of other social media tools for more effective journalism practice.
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Keywords
Social Media, Broadcast Journalism, Broadcast Journalists, Kwara State, Nigeria