The use of new media in journalism and news dissemination in Zambia - the case of the internet.
type: CreativeWork
description: The field of Mass Communication has seen a growing use of new technologies that include news websites, weblogs, mobile news alerts and applications among others, mostly over the internet. Collectively, these technologies are part of the emerging area of ‘new media’, of which the internet is considered a key component and is thus recognised as an essential mass medium based on its distinctive technology, manner of use, range of content and services, and its distinct own image, (McQuail, 2005: 28). Despite acknowledging the importance of the internet as a mass medium, it is doubtful that media houses in Zambia have fully developed their capacities in this new arena of mass communication. The impact that the internet has had on the practice of journalism also remained unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of use, scope and impact of the internet on journalism in Zambia and to help gain a knowledge base on the available internet facilities for journalists, the available skills and the significant achievements and challenges brought by the internet on the practice of journalism in Zambia. The study also investigated the impact of the internet on the delivery and gathering of news. It also sought to investigate the reasons for the current levels of use of the internet and identify the factors that inhibit the use of the internet and other new communication technologies by the Zambian media. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, employing a combination of in-depth interviews, structured respondent questionnaires, focus group discussions, observations and policy review in Lusaka and Livingstone between November 2011 and February 2012. The research findings showed that the internet has had a positive impact on the practice of journalism and that it has influenced journalists to engage more with news consumers. However, it was also discovered that further positive impact has been inhibited by factors such as the lack of access to internet …
abstract: The field of Mass Communication has seen a growing use of new technologies that include news websites, weblogs, mobile news alerts and applications among others, mostly over the internet. Collectively, these technologies are part of the emerging area of ‘new media’, of which the internet is considered a key component and is thus recognised as an essential mass medium based on its distinctive technology, manner of use, range of content and services, and its distinct own image, (McQuail, 2005: 28). Despite acknowledging the importance of the internet as a mass medium, it is doubtful that media houses in Zambia have fully developed their capacities in this new arena of mass communication. The impact that the internet has had on the practice of journalism also remained unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of use, scope and impact of the internet on journalism in Zambia and to help gain a knowledge base on the available internet facilities for journalists, the available skills and the significant achievements and challenges brought by the internet on the practice of journalism in Zambia. The study also investigated the impact of the internet on the delivery and gathering of news. It also sought to investigate the reasons for the current levels of use of the internet and identify the factors that inhibit the use of the internet and other new communication technologies by the Zambian media. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, employing a combination of in-depth interviews, structured respondent questionnaires, focus group discussions, observations and policy review in Lusaka and Livingstone between November 2011 and February 2012. The research findings showed that the internet has had a positive impact on the practice of journalism and that it has influenced journalists to engage more with news consumers. However, it was also discovered that further positive impact has been inhibited by factors such as the lack of access to internet …
author: Mambwe, Elastus
language: en
keywords: Online journalism--Impact of., Media and journalism., Internet and mass media., Journalism.
date published: 2013
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:05:50Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The University of Zambia