IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MODERN JOURNALISM (A STUDY OF JOURNALISTS IN GUSAU METROPOLIS)

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the impact of social media on modern journalism in Gusau metropolis. To achieve this aim, the survey research method and chi-square were used. Subjects were drawn from journalists in Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State, using the purposive sampling technique. Three research questions and one alternative hypothesis guided the study. Research findings showed that social media have enhanced the productivity of journalists in Gusau metropolis and a great number of journalists use them to source for news among other things. To this end, the researcher recommended that journalists should carry out a research on the available social media tools in order to identify reliable and trustworthy social networking sites and use them to discharge their journalistic duties. The researcher suggested that further studies should be carried out on the role of social media in sustaining democracy, advertising, public relations and public opinion polls.