INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: UTILISATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY JOURNALISTS IN PORT HARCOURT

Abstract

This study analysed how information gotten on social media is utilised by journalists in Port Harcourt considering the credibility challenges inherent in social media usage. Social media promotes a participatory media culture where openness, collaboration and interactivity thrive. Restructuring and redefining the way both individuals and mainstream media communicate; social media have encouraged the phenomenon of citizens’ journalism where everybody have the liberty to become a reporter. These characteristics of social media portend grave danger to journalists in terms of information dissemination as the boundaries between the creators of media messages and disseminators are blurred. The Technological determinism theory which holds that communication technologies shapes how individuals in the society behave was used as the theoretical anchor for the study. The survey research design was employed and the questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. The population of study was two hundred and fifty registered journalists in Port Harcourt. The sample size was determined at 152 respondents. The study found among others that most journalists in Port Harcourt do not regard social media as credible news sources. The study recommends that journalists in Port Harcourt should keep harnessing the positive power of the social media to keep the public abreast with current happenings.