The media technology used for news production and preparation at Dream Fm was reported to be completely digital and new. The respondent F/SS/DFM indicated that:
We don't have any old technology at this station. We use a ZOOM4 recorder which is 2014 made and I personally have a ZOOM6 which is the 2016 edition. Since we started operations in 2012, every technology we own have been new and of the state- of –the- art starting from the computers, internet connectivity, digital HD television sets, digital microphones, DSTV cables, Digital home theatre radio, iPads, laptops etc. We also carry our device around with us. For instance, when it became clear that there is a sit-at-home today (30th May 2017), I called the office and as soon as I got in here, a car and driver was ready and I zoomed off to the field for situation reports. I was able to do my work hitch free and fast because I had my devices (recorder, iPad and smartphone) with me (F/SS/DFM).
The response here showed that all the news production technologies mentioned were new media technologies. The station newsroom outline was quite unlike that of other newsrooms visited. Every part of the building was air-conditioned showing that the owner of the private station has greater affluence unlike in the state-owned broadcast stations like EBBC, IBC, and BCA. This might be a reason for the availability of only new media technologies in the station.
The F/SS/HFM indicated that Hot FM uses only new media technologies for news production just like Dream FM. The station newsroom outline is similar except for the non-availability of printer and papers. According to the respondent:
For instance, you see me producing news now. I used USB and copied it to the iPad. It is more economical, faster and it's wonderful! In new gathering, we use midget for our recordings. Its digital and as soon as the reporters come back, they use the USB on the midget, they plug in on the PC and it (the information recorded) comes out of the laptop or PC. We also use a program called Adobe audition to do the audio transcription from the recorder. It's very fast and easy, unlike the ordinary transcription on paper. In fact, I can say that new media has changed everything in broadcasting (F/SS/HFM).
At IBC, Owerri, the respondent affirmed that the station uses only new media technologies in news production today. According to M/SS/IBC:
What we use today in the television unit is a memory card because of new developments in technology; we use the digital camera for TV. So, the era of the bulky camera is over. You use the digital camera with a memory card; you upload with a USB cord to the editing room and start editing on computers. We also use mini DVDs. In radio unit, we have digital recorders, audio CDs, and digital microphones. Generally, we have digital transmitters for our radio and television stations (M/SS/IBC).
The kinds of technology used in this newsroom for news production were mostly new media technologies. Also, at ABS, only new media technologies are used in their newsroom according to respondents report:
We use mainly digital recorders now. The old recorder we have uses cassette tape and the recording was limited by space. We use digital cameras for television which has a memory card, the camera has USB as well as the recorders for editing and, interview. In production, we use computers, CDs, DVDs, digital microphones, digital transmitter, iPad, internet, digital printers, scanners, everything here is digital (M/SS/ABS).
At ESBS, Enugu, the respondent also affirmed that the station use only new media technologies in news production and management. The F/SS/ESBS observed that:
Today you can just make your video with a digital camera, edit your report, send to the control room and it will be easier to read. Our editing suite is also digitized or you use computer software and nonlinear editors to edit your stories on laptops, especially TV stories (F/SS/ESBS).
Nevertheless, the respondent at Madonna FM identified and even showed the researchers all the media technologies presently used in news department which were completely digitalized and new media technologies. M/SS/MR further pointed out:
News work is easier now. We are ICT compliant and our digital transmitter has made the production of news less cumbersome. There is one technology donated by BBC to this FM which is the Hand ZOOM5 that is used for recording and editing. It has simplified radio journalism since you can record and store in a memory card. You can connect the recorder to a laptop for editing and actualities. We also have our digital microphone, smart television for monitoring other station and computer editor. In fact, everything in our station now has a new media version even the UPS.
This suggested the availability and use of new media technologies at Madonna FM as shown in the reaction. Likewise, at Rhema FM all the media technologies used for news department were new media technologies. M/SS/RFM replied:
Everything about news production, packaging, collection and even dissemination has changed. We are new media compliant and our digital facilities have made the production of news less cumbersome. There is one important technology for radio news production, the digital Sony recorder that is used for recording and editing. It has simplified radio journalism since you record and store in a memory card. It also uses a USB to connect directly to the computer for editing and actualities. We also have our digital microphone, smart television for monitoring other station and computer editor. In fact, everything in our station now has a new media version even the UPS. We cast our news on iPad and it's easier for the newscaster than the paper format (M/SS/RFM)
The paper format basically entails having a script while casting the news. In a follow-up question concerning the use of script in news production today, the respondent explained:
No ooh! We write on papers, but only for record purpose. In fact, we use soft copies always since we use the iPad in newscasting. Everything we do is computerized. See our reporter that just came back from the field, he is typing his report on a laptop. We don't have a typesetter here. Once you come back you type your stories and submit to the editor. I can say that from experience, new media technologies are better, it is cheaper, faster and easier (M/SS/RFM).
On the other hand, there was a different situation at EBBC. At the point of the interview, the respondent was watching an analogue television set in his office. M/SS/EBBC replied that:
We use a digital Sony recorder now. The old recorder we had used cassette tape and the recording is limited by space. But this new recorder uses a memory card of 1000GB and can record so many things. We use digital cameras for television news coverage which has a memory card instead of the old video tapes that are bulky. We can use the Sony recorder for editing and, interview. We have three of them: one for the office, another for Government House reporters and the other for the House of Assembly reporters.
The main news production technologies identified by this respondent were digital and new media technologies, but the presence of the old TV suggested that there were old media technologies in the newsroom. Nevertheless, the response from the respondent at BCA was different from responses received from other places. Explaining the state of technologies in use at the station, M/SS/BCA:
Our problems are the old transmitters we are using. At times, the signals are poor, but there is hope for a change. We still have other old equipment like this radio set, we have the digital and analogue camera which we use alternatively. We have two recorders, microphone, computers, CDs- audio and video. We have so many technologies here.
Therefore the presence of analogue transmitters, radio sets, recorders and microphones (types not mentioned) apparently shows that old media technologies abound in this station.
In summary, responses in relation to research, question one above showed that seven of the respondents representing seven broadcast stations which are Dream FM, Hot FM, IBC, ABS, ESBS, Madonna FM and Rhema FM responded to having only new media technologies in their newsrooms.
Seven of them equally agreed that only new media technologies were used in their newsrooms. All the same, the remaining two respondents representing two broadcast stations which are EBBC and BCA were of the view that both new and old media technologies are used in their stations. Although the respondent from EBBC agreed using only new media technologies for news production, the researcher observed an analogue TV set in his office during the interview which he uses for station monitoring.
This further refuted his claims. The respondent at BCA agreed that they use mostly old media technologies and little of new media technologies in news production.
4.3.1.2 Research Question 4- Which is the Most Popularly Used New Media Technology in Broadcast Newsrooms in South East Nigeria?