This essay centres on Media and Communications in Nigeria, the New Media wave to be specific. The New Media focuses more on using mediums such as the internet, blogs, websites, social media, phones and computers to disseminate and share news, information (whether educational, political or social), content of all kinds and all-round gist.
I want you to understand how the New Media works, what it entails in Nigeria, how it is used by various people and why it is used. The dynamics around the new media is fascinating and fast as it levels up every single day with interesting outlets and options. Media has always centred on passing messages or information to the public. We have gone all the way from traditional media and grown into the new media space and the Nigerian Media and Communication space is not left out. The New Media focuses mainly on ease, where an individual is in charge of what information he/she chooses to consume and entertain.
A quick survey on what New Media mediums individuals, friends, family and people on the internet prefer to use and why shows all the same patterns.
Esievo Ochuko prefers Twitter (social media) because “it is usually less exaggerated, unlike the other social outlets and news/entertainment. It is pretty much straight forward and accessible.”
Folake Oni prefers Instagram and Twitter because “they help with information I need, help me keep up with news and recent trends, and help me stay in touch with friends and family.”
Pamela Ezeagu prefers Twitter because “You get the news easily, even the news you aren’t looking to find and it’s fun.”
Modebei Kainebe prefers and makes use of Instagram, Punch Newspaper app, Fox news app and Twitter because “There is wide and vast information available. An interesting and entertaining flow of passing information”
Noah Okwudini makes use of the internet search engines and the likes “Most times, I just google what I need to find. Other times, I visit blogs and updates of instablog9ja, gistlovers and the likes”
@mo_isu_ on Twitter says “I use Twitter because micro-content is easier to consume. I tend to follow links to news stories so I have nuanced reporting with adequate references”
@byayobami on Twitter says ‘Twitter and YouTube are my preferred mediums. Twitter is personal and helps with social interaction, YouTube is visual and instructional”
@sewas.gram on Instagram says “Instagram is my go-to because they push it to your face even if you don’t want to see it and you get information about things around the world nonetheless.”
@emmanuelpinnick says “I use Twitter mostly because there is a wide range of topics/stories/content uploaders, ease of search, and the ability to find multiple perspectives on the same topic.”
@raneh_e on Twitter says “Twitter is my favourite medium because it’s just very convenient to express yourself, network and meet great people.”
In recent years, fast-developing technology has been fueling an information revolution. The new media, digital broadcasting and the internet are sweeping away the limitations of the analogue world and weakening the grip of government-owned platforms. The nature of the relationship between the broadcaster and its audience is changing. New media in this information age provides an immediate, informative, intelligent, interactive platform for discussion and debate.
New media is essentially a cyber-culture with modern computer technology, digital data controlled by software and the latest fast-developing communication technology. Most technologies described as “new media” are digital, and often have characteristics of being networkable, dense, compressible, interactive and impartial. Young people are attracted to the easy means of getting information with internet based terminals or handphones which provide them information of their choice anytime, anywhere. They need not have to wait for any broadcasting schedule to be connected to get the information.
Looking at both the people’s views and information out there, it is clear that New Media in the country has a huge stake and has contributed to making a lot of things easier to access and use. Broadcasting agencies even use these mediums to their advantage, we have news apps and blogs/ websites, social media handles and so on. Young and old alike find these mediums very useful and adaptable.
I believe the media, as regards the new media, is one to move with. I can’t imagine not being able to do anything, receive information and learn all I need without ease. I remember my community development service group of NYSC’s visit to a post office in Omu Aran, Kwara state. I remember asking questions about how work has been with technology taking space in almost everything, and making, sending important messages and letters easy with phones and laptops. The world is changing and moving quickly with new breakthroughs and discoveries even with their downsides. Whatever we see now and use at the very least would always be to make our lives easy and smooth.
Ref; savap.org.pk/journals. The influence of new media on conventional media in Nigeria; Abdulhameed Kayode Agboola.
