IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM IN ENUGU

Abstract

Digital technology has significantly transformed the practice of newspaper journalism by changing how journalists gather, process, produce and distribute news. The traditional newspaper industry, which historically depended on physical reporting, printing and distribution, now operates within an environment characterized by smartphones, internet connectivity, social media, online publishing platforms, digital cameras, multimedia tools and artificial intelligence. This seminar paper examines the impact of digital technology on newspaper journalism in Enugu. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study is 100 journalists working with newspaper organizations and newspaper-related media operations in Enugu. A sample of 50 respondents was selected using purposive sampling. The instrument for data collection is a structured questionnaire titled “Digital Technology and Newspaper Journalism Questionnaire (DTNJQ).” For validation, the questionnaire was submitted to experts in Mass Communication and research methodology for face and content validation. The reliability of the instrument was established through a pilot test using respondents who are similar to, but not part of, the main study population. The responses was subjected to Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis. A coefficient of 0.75. Data are presented using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, while the hypotheses are tested using a one-sample t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicate that digital technology has enhanced the speed of news gathering, improved access to information, facilitated online publication and expanded audience reach. However, issues such as misinformation, inadequate digital skills, internet costs, technological dependence and pressure to publish quickly constitute challenges. From the findings it was recommended that continuous digital training, investment in newsroom technology, stronger editorial verification procedures and improved digital infrastructure.