SMARTPHONES AS TOOL FOR NEWS GATHERING AMONG JOURNALISTS IN FCT ABUJA

The main objective of this study was to investigate smartphones as tool for news gathering among journalists in FCT Abuja. The research was anchored on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Technological Determinism Theory (TDT). The study used a cross sectional survey research method while questionnaire was used as data collection instrument of which 148 questionnaires were administered to 148 registered journalists in FCT Abuja. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage method. Findings of the study showed that substantial number of the respondents (82.4%) were of the views that they are using smartphone on their daily routine as journalists, as a result a significant number of the respondents (89.9%) admitted to be using smartphone for news gathering often. However, a sizable number of the respondents (40%) claimed to be making use of camera and video recording capabilities feature in their smartphones mostly in the course of news gathering. All the respondents (100%) agree that smartphones have enabled journalists to multitask activities effectively. Majority of the respondents (92.6%) strongly agree that the future of smartphones for news gathering is bright. The study recommended that media organizations should further encourage the use of technological gadget in the likes of smartphones, so as to be technologically abreast in this information and communication technology world, symposium and seminar should be organized to further intimate journalists on the optimum use of the smartphone to get the best of journalism off it.