159 ELE

using porta
ELECTRONIC NEWS GATHERING: IMPACT, in electroni
portable
IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN miniaturize
TELEVISION NEWS REPORTING hoisted on
of videotap
that uses
recorder
By location.
WHAT IS
ARIRIGUZOH STELLA AMARAEBIUGWU GATHERIN
ENG is r
recording
recorded
videotape.
Herndon (I
when the
INTRODUCTION reporting in allowing the reporter to was 1mpr,
Television news r eporting demands tape the sound and pictures of a story broadcast ~
that the reporter uses all of his or and even transmit live from the location are a portalj
her abilities in the gathering of the of that story. ENG technology has given camera and
news facts and story backgrounds, broadcasters of today flexibility older built as asi
organizing same in a coherent veterans only dreamt about. Because of compact
fashion and then telling the viewers extraordinary satellite capabilities, a storage
these stories in a clear and logical reporter can file stories for the NTA television b~
manner that they would NEWS at Nine from virtually any 3/4 or V2 inc
understand. The aim of the location and at a short notice. The record thei
broadcast station is to tell its anchor person can also anchor the are the vide
viewers what is happening in a same news from any location of choice. and events~
manner that is as complete as Today, Nigeria Television Authority (NT From these
possible . The importance of A) links up her news anchors in the sent back li
television is emphasized by different zonal stations during the camera s
Skormand and Schroeder ( 1992) News at Nine. The African Independent transmitted
when they wrote that television is Television (AIT) has also excelled in put directly
the most powerful form of public doing something similar. In addition, it microwaJ
communication, as well as the links up with its foreign transmissio
prime site of the social negotiation correspondents in the other difference 1
of ideas, values and lifestyles. Time continents. During the recently Broadcasti
restrictions may not permit concluded American presidential have facilit
reportorial completeness in elections, the station was able to get live events at 1
answering the 5Ws and H, but r eports from its correspondents in satellite
stations aim at getting the best Washington . CNN shows the world signals are
available version of the facts at the what is happening in Iraq and in the station for
moment of coverage. other parts of the world because of the This may h
news gathering technology · it has time.
Television news basically deals with greatly invested in .
the pictures and words of the The ENG
newsmakers and of the places of the Hyde (1987:493) defines ENG as news beams the
events. Electronic News Gathering reports for television whether they are relay st
(ENG) helps television news live or taped, produced in the field transmissio

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies International

 159 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATHERIN G: IMPA CT, IM PLICA TIONS AND CHALLENGES
usin g portable equipment employed
IPACT, in electronic field production. This
S IN por table equipment is a
miniaturized camcorder that can be
G hoisted on the shoulder or any type
of videotape producing equipment
that uses a minicam or a portable
recorder recording events on
location. · signals back to the studio. Bishop
WHAT IS ELECTRONIC NEWS
wu GATHERING (EN G)
ENG is reporting with picture
recording machines. Pictures are
recorded electronically on the
videotape. According to Grob and
Herndon (1999:9) ENG started
e reporter to when the video cassette recorder
was improved upon to meet
.res of a story broadcast quality. The basic tools
m the location
logy has given are a portable camcorder (television
"bility older camera and video camera recorder
t. Because of built as a single unit) . The camera is
apabilities, a compact and operates from a
for the NTA storage battery pack. Most
virtually any television broadcasting stations use
t notice . The
3/4 or V2 inch videotape cassettes to
record their remotes . The remotes
) anchor the are the video recordings of people
tion of choice.
Authority (NT and events done outside the studio.
1chors in the From these locations, stories can be
during the sent back live to the newsroom. The
t Independent
camera signals are simply
;o excelled in transmitted back to the station and
In addition , it put directly on air - usually by
s foreign microwave or satellite
th e other transmission. This is the basic
h e recently difference between it and Outside
p residential Broadcasting (OB). The OB van may
able to get live have facilities to record and air
3pondents in events at locations. But it has no
vs the world
satellite connections. Usually
.q and in the signals are relayed back to the
)ecause of the station for onward transmission .
)logy it has This may however be at the same
time.
ENG as news The ENG transmitting eq:uipment
~ther they are
beams the signal to a microwave
in the field relay station for further
transmission to the station. Where
uuication Studies International Jounutl of Communication No.4 June, 2006
there is no line of sight to a r elay
station, the signals can b e s en t to the
station by satellite. Geosynchronou s
communication satellites do not allow
any breaks in transmission because
the satellites are always in view. Some
digital systems use a personal
computer and a modem to s end video
(1995 :23 1) notes that the
developments of electronics have made
possible the world wide boom in
television communication: enabling
information to be sent instantly to all
parts of the world. Where the
transmission is live, it means that the
action is being recorded and
transmitted simultaneously as it is
happening right away. There is usually
no editing. Therefore the viewer at
home sees the news events as they are
happening.
The use of ENG has made television
news reporting more lively, faster , and
flexible. Broadcasting stqtions
increasingly use ENG to bring on the
spot reports of events happening in far
and near locations to their viewers.
Agba (200 1: I) observes that news
develop around the clock and
sometimes unexpectedly. Therefore,
trying to cope with the ceaseless flow
and the constant pressure to keep it
fresh requ ires speed in reporting,
processing and delivery. ENG is the
basic method of gathering and editing
pictures and words and putting these
on air. Burton (2000:266) states that
recent technological changes have
improved television reach and quality.
The new light weight 16mm film
cameras with synchronized sound
recording have enabled news and
documentaries to achieve actuality
and realism through flexible location
work. With recent improvements in
videotape technology , television
newscasts are more visually exciting
and lively because the development of
the media is always dependent on the
 ARIRIGUZOH S TELLA AMARAEBIUGWU 160 161 ELf.

developm ent of its technology. The ii) The videograph er who is responsible from the
arrival of satellites links in t h e for recording the video and sou n d different
1960's and the jet liners laid the elements of the story T h e seI
whole world op en to television. New iii) The technicians in the van who are commun
oppor tunities op en up to the r e sponsible for controlling t he foun datr
reporters as they search for better equipment and the micr owave or ultra
pictures to accompany their satellite transmission . gathe d
reports . technold
BENEFITS OF ENG writing
Hyde (1987 :3 27) writes that field ENG confers three basic benefits t o the possi
reporters working with ENG broadcast news reporting. These perm an
operators h ave the op portunity of are : • Ab ou t
planning their cover age , engaging i) Speed : The technology gran t s pictograt
in on-site investiga tion s if they are speed to news reporting as the alphabet
not satisfied with t h e first report, videotap es and digital discs from around
thinking through and writing their the ENG machines are available k nown
opening and closing stand ups . and ready for editing immediately printed
They can also record a second , third after they are recorded. All the Mode m
or as many takes as possible. r eporter has to do is to remove the Germanj
Pictures and live r eporting using tape from the machine. even d
ENG mac hin es have made ii) Editing flexibility : The technology Japanes'
t elevision far better able to take allows for the quick construction of p rin ting
viewers to all parts of the world and a basic news story. Audio and • The 15
wherever the news is breaking. The visual effects can be added for Gutenbe
print medium may wait to tell th eir emphasis . Some models of the printing
readers what has hap pened in th eir b asic equ ipment have editing u nit s type ancl
next edition b u t the television attached to th em. This means that he had
medium is showing and telling the the reporter can edit his stories revol ~
viewers exactly what is happening right there at the locations even commun
n ow and with vivid pictu res! Indeed before reaching the studio. incre ase~
ENG brings the people to the news iii) Mobility: The use of helicopter s, ofwritte
events . microwave and satellite news Meanw
gathering equipment have mad e it technolo
Hyde (1987 :336) tells that most possible to reach further and faster The anc
television news oper a tion s m ake to any p art of th e world to cover high W
use of one or more remote vans present happenings. This therefore country
equipped with E NG equipm en t. a d ds depth and breadth to news were rel
These vans are a t t imes used for coverage a s well as goes live from and smo
covering and tap ing a report in the the scen e of a st ory. and Rom
field but their chief purpose is to system.
en a ble reporters to cover a nd COMMUNICATION AND was cor
transmit their stories directly t o th e TECHNOLOGY between
station, often during a n ewscast. The a b ility to communicate effectively basis.
The ENG technology has three depends on the available t echnology. witne ss
important techni c a l fe atu res : Ru ben (1987:200-202) chronicle s the as n
.
helical scanning, portability and history of inform ation technology. appearm
ease in editing. A typ ical ENG form .
reporting team includes: • About 2000 BC: Early h"\lmans first • The 160
i) The reporter who is responsible drew symbols on the walls of their
for the facts and the words used ca ves. The way they beat their drums
in reporting the story and the kind of smoke coming out

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication: Studies Internationa

 EBIUGWU 160 161 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATH ERING: IMPACT, IMPLICA TIONS AND CHALLENGES

~ is r esponsib le from their caves communicated operated in m any cou ntries. The
deo and sound different messages among t h em. telegraph m a d e its a dvent in 1794.
T h e se very primi ti v e • Th e 1800s : S amuel Morse invented
ae van who are communication devices laid the the Morse Cod e in 1837. It allowed
ont~olling the foundation of ou r present day th e translatin g of characters into a
micr owave or ult ra modem information sequen ce of lon g and short electrical
Ill . gathering and processing impulses {called d ots and dashes)
technologies. The develop ment of that can be sent to a recipien t . In
writing dramatically increased 1866 cable was laid across t h e
sic ben efits to the possibilities of coding d ata in Atlantic to heigh ten t h e rapid
portin g. These permanent and portable forms. transfer of i n for m ation. The
• About 1000 BC: E arly telep h one came in 1876 when
aology grants pictographic writing gave way to Alexander Graham Bell discovered
)orting as the alphabets . Paper was in vented that human voice could be converted
ital discs from around 100 AD . The oldest directly into electrical energy and
; are ava ilable known printed piece is a Sutra th is in tu rn could be transmitted
11g immed iately printed in Korea in 750 AD . over a wire. In 1895, Marconi
orded. All t h e Modem printing began i n discovered t he wireless telegraph or
s to remove the Germany in the mid 15th century radio transmission. This sent
ne . even though the Chinese, human voice on air. These marked
fhe technology Japanese and Koreans developed the introduction of electronic
construction of printing much earlier. communication technology.
ry. Audio and • The 1500s: By 1500, Johann • From the 1930s: Television
be a dded for Gutenberg had completed the transmission came in the 1930s.
n odels of t h e printing of a Bible using movable Computer came in the 1940s. The
ve editing unit s type and a printing process that 1950s and 1960s saw the
his means t hat he had developed. Printing d evelopment of communication
:dit his s tories revolutionalized the s a tellites , which served the same
locations even communication process and relay fu n ction a s the early but less
studio. increased the rate of production sophisticat ed fire towers of ancient
of h elicop ters, ofwritten and visual d ocuments . Greece . The use of s atellites made it
satellit e new s Meanwhile, com m un i cation possible to cover the whole world and
1t have m ade it technologies were d eveloping. relay immediately from location.
rth er and faster The ancient Greeks b uilt many Direct b r oa dcast s atellites deliver
world t o cover high walls even in to their television signals from the satellites
:. This therefore countryside. Differen t messages to the h omes. Th e satellite dishes
·eadth t o news were relayed to the p eople by fire collect faint micr owave signals from
goes live from and smok e signals. The Persians an orbiting satellite and amplify
and Romans developed a postal t h ese about a million times.
system. Official correspondence Microwav e tech nology allows
I ON AN D was conveyed by h orse back stations n ot usin g s tandard AM , FM
between stations on a regular and televis ion frequ en cy to transmit
icate effectively b asis . The 1500s and 160 0 s at higher frequencies . The higher the
ble techn ology. witnes sed th e impact of printing fr equency, the further the electronic
ch ronicles the as new sp aper s sta r ted microwa ve travels in a line of s ight.
chnology. appearing in t heir present day Recent years h a ve wit n ess ed the
form . e m e rgence o f m i n iaturized
y humans firs t • The 1600s: Regular mail s ervice t ransistor radios , s t ereophonic
e walls of their was established t o link m ajor a udio equipment and mini cameras;
1eat their drums cities in Europe. wireless telephones , dig i t al
>ke coming out • The 1700s : Postal services t elephone networks , helicopter

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 A RIR/GUZOH STELLAAMARAEBIUGWU 162 163 ELEC

borne homing antennae and the signals. Both microwave and infrared collaborating
compact disks. t~~smissio n require clear line of sources. Hov
• From the 1980s: Computers and VISIOn . guarantee a
telecommunications found new objectivity.
applications in mass media Electronic publishing is the on line (1994:387)
communication. Computerized publishing or the electronic delivery of reality is the
graphics came into existence and newspapers, magazines , news , books n ews and thai
chang ed factual te levisio n . and other information via internet. E - of issues, eve
Lightweight electronic cameras- publishing was initially aimed at and other
like beta cam and camcorder- supporting research throu gh the environment.
means that the television crew do provision of on line bibliography and work include
not have to lug heavy equipment databases. The coming of the web made i) field report~
to serie s of events. The e-publishing a most economical and ii) interviewin
introduction of domestic video quick way of disseminating information witnesses t'1
recorder s means that any person on a mass scale to viewers world wide . them
with the equipment could time Post and Anderson (2000 :226-228) iii)video grap·
shift: this is record whatever is of write that the internet provides on line event or the
interest to him off the air and archive ; new medium approach (of iv) editing
watch it later. creating new materials for the w eb , real v) writing th~~
Therefore the development of new time news delivery and customized everything ~
technology changes the way we information delivery); edutainment and vi) producing
receive and pass across messages. news on demand . bringing e
This means that the available an orderly
technology also determines how we Communication technology has made wordsmatc
consume mass communication journalism a most dynamic profession. vii) anchoring
products. Today teleconferencing or It has provided television with new and m or e new
video communication aims to fascinating tools with which to gather news for
reduce trav eling costs by and report the news . Broadcasting is audience t
connecting people with video links. now both contemporary and futu re The product
Post and Anderson (2000:236) note relevant. By using these tools wisely news is te
that large companies have built and skillfully, a television news must wor
teleconferencing rooms linked to reporter is able to gather, process and videographe
other similar centers in other parts deliver the news far better than before. must be res
of the world. They can also view The present technology dictates that role and
documents. All communication broadcasting news reporters use them understand
requires a transmission medium . to keep check on themselves as well as news writin
Signals can be carried by a variety of answer and re -answer questions must matc
media: electricity, fiber optics or bothering on social values . available pi
waves. Signals sent through new s pr
electricity pass through coaxial TELEVISION NEWS WORK responsibi
wires, example as used in cable The news process begins when a d~fferent ~e
television. Fiber optic cables are reporter watches an event or an p1ctures m
reflective glass or plastic coatings. occurrence of news value. News must anchor orn
They offer the fastest transmission be observed , understood and the news s
rates with the least interference. interpreted by the reporter before he conviction
Wave transmission includes radio, can prepare the initial report for the systems
microwave or infrared. They do not public. Because the reporter may not provide th
require cables. The airwaves carry be at the scene of the event he has to standard f
the signals. This is known as rely on the claims of eye witnesses to
broadcasting. Any person with a get a report of what happened. In a ty
receiver or antennae can pick up the Reporters try to minimize bias by newsroom

A n Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies ltrtermrtion

 BIUGWU 162
163 ELECTRONIC NEWS GA THERJN G: IMPA CT, IMPLICA TIONS AND CHALLENGES

tve and infrared collaboratin g stories from different news gatherers an d the new s
clear line of sources. However, this does not processors together is the tie of shared
guarantee absolute accuracy or professional values in t he process of
objectivity. DeFleur and Dennis getting the news on air and on time too.
is the on line (1994:387) are of the opinion that Bromley (1994:5) observes that the
onic delivery of reality is the ultimate source of all path followed by the story th a t m akes it
~s, news, books
news and that news are the variety to the news bulletin is essentially
via internet. E- of issues, events, conflicts, trends linear: from the news reporter, to the
ally aimed at and other happenings in the news managers, news proces s ors and
through the environment. The television news back through the manager to station
tbliography and work includes: executives for final approval. At every
of the web made i) field reporting point is a dialogue with what Dominick
~conomical and
ii) interviewing of news sources and (2000:332) calls the gate keepers. This
ting information witnesses to get information from dialogue is whether to include or
rers world wide. them exclude that particular story. If it is so
(20~0:226-228) iii)video graphic recording of the included, should there be any
provides on line event or the news maker on film amendment or should it be left as it is.
approach (of iv) editing Indeed news scripts in broadcasting
for the web, real v) writing the news script to hold are checked and double checked for
nd customized everything together errors. The reporter is the first gate
iutainment and vi) producing the news package by keeper and editorial responsibility
bringing everything together in starts with him. Others on the chain
an orderly manner so that the include the news producer, bulletin
!logy has made words match the pictures editor, the news editor and eventually
mic profession. vii)anchoring or getting one, two or the director of news/current affairs
n with n ew and more newscasters to read the and CEO. The words published by the
vhich to gather news for members of the Manchester Guardian (May 6, 1926)
3roadcasting is audience to listen to. aptly d escribe the work of a television
ry and future The production of the television news s ta tion: "its p rimary office is the
se .t~ ols wisely n ews is team work. Th e reporter gath ering of news . At t h e peril of its own
eviswn new s m ust work well with the soul, it m ust see that t h e supply is not
:r, proces s and videographer. The videogr a pher tainted . Neit h er in what it gives, n or in
er than b efor e. m u st be responsive to the editor's what it does n ot give , nor in the manner
r dictates tha t
r ole and t h e edito r m ust of presentation must the unclouded
rters use them u nderstand both videography and face of truth suffer wrong."
~lves a s well a s
n ews writing. The news scr ipt writer
er ques tions m u st match his words with the In the area of n ews and current affairs,
s.
available pictures and s ounds. The part of the television n ews r eporters'
RK n e w s pro d ucer h as the work is to break a story. Breaking news
r es p onsibility of wel d ing the are topical s tories such a s the p resident
gins when a different reports and accomp anying resigning, the River Niger Brid ge being
event or an pictures into a unified wh ole. The bombed and collapsing. Shingler and
e. News m u st anch or or newscaster must deliver Wierin ga (1998:96) point out that
r stood an d the n ews stories with purpose and televis ion relies predominantly on
rter befor e h e con viction. Those who manage the vis ion to do th is . What is therefore
report for the syst em s and equipment must selected and s cheduled as part of the
orter may not provide the tools, environm ent and news program will d epend on the
ent he h a s to standard for broadcasting. availability of pictures. Pictur es are got
witnesses to by recording face-face interviews, from
. happened. In a typica l b roaacasting filmed scenes, still frames and from the
mze bias by newsroom, the tie that binds the archives. Television news program are

nication Studies
lntemational Joumal of Communication No. 4 Julle, 2006
 ARIRIGUZOH STELLA A MA RAEBIUGWU 164 165 ELECTRt

not as frequent a s rad io n ews ENG van .

live r eporting you repor t events as expensive to
broadcasts . Indeed , mo st s tations run they are h a ppening. This means
major news bu lletin once a d ay. NTA that you are preclu ded from script Television.
c<I
has it s News at Nin e. AIT has its own writing, editing and re- shooting. expensive to 1
at 8 .0 0 pm. It is d ifficult to interrup t n ewspaper ne
Cremer, Keir s tead and Yoakam
other telev i sio n programs to (1996 :234) are of the opinion that
iii)Technical co
broadcast b reakin g news, except news is u s ually fast m ovin g, complication
news of extr eme im portance. Often spontaneous and chaotic. Spot best effort o
teletext is used to p ass acr oss t h e news is unpredictable. In the bid t o report from
messages. Ch a n nels Television, communicati
stay on top of the news and in a anchor is by s:
Lagos, uses teletext to pass across highly competitive field , rep orters and one- h 1
breakin g news . It is imp ortant to note can make mistakes. A defamatory
that th e audience is m or e enlightened statement cannot be withd rawn b etween th
about and critical of the news simply neither can wron gs turn into speaks and
because their media literacy level is rights. Where t h e reporter is h ears h is
rising; while the station owners who unable t o adlib an unfolding news rep orter may
are not depend ent on government event in an accurate and effective second and
subvention are driven by commerce manner, using ENG becomes a spok en. So
and the profit motive . m inus out tH
challen ge. Where the reporter is an tech n ical adj
inexperienced jou rnalist wit h a anchor and
McLeish ( 1994) warns that editing poor back ground in diverse fields , experience tH
should not be used t o alter the sense he may not be properly informed or reporter is
of what has b een said or to place the at most be very poor in live
material wi t h in an unintended reporting. A reporter who cann ot distraction 9
contex t . Shingl er and Wieringa words on dela
concentrate under pressure and a t iv) Misleading fci
(1998 :97) observe that it is common times under confusion may b e n ot prop erl
knowledge that t h ere is a fine line
between presenting a s tory exactly as
u nable t o speak smoothly ,
coherently and in an organized r eported , ch~
it is developing and re-p ackaging it for manner. A poor journalist m ay be society espec
volatile coun
broadcast. This is so b ecau se editing unable to make sound judgment of Chinese prov
is subjective and is d eterm in ed by the an event's news potential, identify saves a thou
pr od ucer's agenda, the tim e available the most important points or t elevision neW
to turn in the work, air time, ideology, organize t he information into a •

gender an d budget. Only few format th at the public can easily pictu re can
lives and leav
materials are broadcast without some comprehend . The reporter may be v) Time pressur
form of editorial in tervention . distracted by on lookers, run into There is ne
Shingler and Wier in ga (p .97) list kooks (per sons t h at show up prepare fully
other r easons for ed iting to include everywher e always with som ething The r eporter
the removal of intrusive background to say), or sources purposefully gathering th
n oise, tone down a stutter, r emove giving out wrong information. He story as qu
len gth y hesit a ti o n , me et ti m e m ay even be in danger especially may gather
constraints, to match file vision with wh e r e he ha s t ap e d som e
aud io copy , to fit into t h e news incrimin ating materials that may wh er e, but
be easily det
selection and ord er of presentation, t o embarrass or land som e people in some days
r emov e flawed , sup e rfluous or jail. But he m
uninteresting material and to create ii) Cost: It is very costly t o p roduce Sources to
an impact or p articular atmosphere television news u sing ENG. The misunderst
by. t h e use of SFX, music speech etc. ENG equipment inclu d es portable that errors
recorders , ta p e m i ni ca ms , news st ory.
CHALLENGES microwave transmission and a t vi) Deception: T
i) Skill r equired in live reporting: With times a satellit e up link and an

International Jou
An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies
 IEBIUGWU 164 165 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATHERING: IMPA CT, IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

·eport events as ENG van . The machines are ENG can be used to lie, mislead and
tg. This means expensive to buy and maintain. deceive others. Skillful editing can
.ded from script Television coverage is far more remove flaws or tell totally
ild re-shooting. expensive to produce than radio or misleading stories. Spliced
and Yoakam newspaper news reports. pictures can be presented as whole
he opinion that iii)Technical complications : Technical pictures. Pictures can be made to
fast moving, complications may frustrate the lie. Lies mislead and may cause
chaotic. Spot best effort of a field reporter to societal disharmony. During the
ole. In the bid to report from a live location. Where late Abacha's inglorious reign, the
news and in a communication with the news video clips of the alleged coup
field, reporters anchor is by satellite, a delay of one plotters planning sessions were
>. A defamatory and one- half seconds occurs shown to some traditional rulers.
be withdrawn between the time the anchor These clips implicated some key
ilgs turn in to speaks and the time the reporter officers in a phantom coup. Some
te reporter is hears his voice. Similarly, the people later claimed that these
unfolding news reporter may hear his own voice a video clips were an assemblage and
te and effective second and half after he has careful editing of footage from the
'iG becomes a spoken. Sound engineers may archives. Also during this dictator's
1e reporter is an minus out the reporter's voice by reign, the NT A aired video footage
rnalist with a technical adjustments so that the of millions of Nigerians begging the
il diverse fields , anchor and the viewers do not man to continue to rule! NT A
erly informed or experience this lag, but the field apologized to Nigerians after his
poor in live reporter is still left with the death because the pictures were
:er who cannot distraction of hearing his own used to deceive .
pressure and at words on delay.
:Usion may be iv) Misleading facts: Where facts are After the Chernobyl nuclear accident,
tk smo othly , not properly investigated and American television networks bought
. an organized reported, chaos may erupt in the video tapes apparently showing the
!lrnalist may be society especially in an ethnically destroyed Ukrainian plant. However,
mdjudgment of volatile country like Nigeria. A the pictures were actually those of
ltential, identify Chinese proverb says that a picture another nuclear plant in Italy.
ant points or saves a thousand words . But in
mation into a television news reporting the wrong Today there is a device known as the
tblic can easily picture can destroy a thousand electronic d arkroom . It can be
'eporter may b e lives and leave some houses burnt! manipulated to tell lies. This
okers, run into v) Time pressure and facts gathering: technology makes it possible to create
rh at show u p · There is never enough time to authentic looking pictures of a couple
with something prepare fully before going on air. embracing each other even though the
:s purposefully The reporter faces time pressure in man has not met the woman before!
nformation. He gathering the basic facts of the
mger especially story as quickly as possible. He IMPACT
t aped some may gather who, what, when and Electronic news gathering has made
;rials that may where, but how and why may not the following impact in our world:
some people in be easily determined, at times, for i) ENG is the foundation of a new
some days after the news events. information based society: People
stly to p r oduce But he must not speculate.
>ing ENG. The S ources too may mistake or depend on the news they hear and
eludes portable m isunderstand facts . This means watch to make some decisions.
minicams, that errors have entered into the People are information hungry.
ission and at news story. Television news uses ENG
p link and an vi) Deception: The reach and speed of

ltlunicatiolt Studies lllternutioltal Jourmtl of Commtmicatiolt No. 4 June, 2006

 A RJRIGUZOH STELLA AMARAEBIUGWU
tech nology to fulfill these needs
and bring information to the
audien ce. Therefore, the ability of
individuals or organizations to
acquire, organize, manipulate
and transmit information has
increased and made the society to
thrive or live on information. The
information society depends on
the provision of relevant
information to survive.
ii) Increas e in organizational
efficiency: Business and
organizations improve their
efficiencies by providing their
customers with better goods and
services at affordable prices .
These organizations are
employers of labour and also are
tax payers. ENG therefore helps
Nigeria to realize some of her long
term economic development
goals . As long as these companies
are in existence, they help to
sustain the economic growth of
the country. It is not uncommon
for viewers to see Nigerians
talking of what they want or of
industrialists talking of what they
can produce. These pools spread
demand and supply. Flexible
business organizations cue into
these to develop new products.
The market acceptance of these
products leads to the improved
profitability of these companies.
Their total production adds to the
GDP. Nigerians can now choose
the products they want and thus
ind uc e competition among
companies. B ecaus e companies
A n Interdisciplinary Journal of Conuizimicatiou Studies
166 167 ELJ
are competing with each oth er, and in
they are forced to improve on the ingredit
quality of their product s, reduce wants t;
prices of their goods and become
good corporate citizens. Benjamin
and Blunt ( 1992) define iv)
information technology as the
means of acquiring, organizing,
sorting, manipulating and
transmitting information. ENG is
the electronic system of
gathering, sorting, transmitting
news and information.
iii) In f1 u e n c e o n n a t i o n a 1 knowle ~
development: National use of.
development is the complex knowle~
relationship between the
economic, social and political
spheres of the nation and is their
usually associated with
abundance and prosperity. What
is shown as the news can
therefore affect national citizens
developm e nt . Nation a l new i
development is linked with the
economic, social and political ~~~n~
information shared among the knowle
citizens of Nigeria and even with creatio
the citizens of other countries. opport
Decisions are based on the v) Nation
quality of information available to our un
the listener who may be a policy CommU
maker, a home maker, employer, comm
employee, trader etc. Therefore televis
television news affects national makin
development. In other words the cultur
growing impact of ENG is divers
perceived on ec on omic and transm
political obj ectives for the citizen s values
to follow so as to socialize to societ
r ealize n a tional goals . Knowledge of diff
Internationa
 EBIUGWU 166 167 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATHERING: IMPACT, IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

th each other, and information are the basic see the other cultures of the other
improve on the ingredients for any person who ethnic groups, the more likely are
oducts, reduce wants to respond to opportunities they to come to understand them.
ds and become and challenges in our socio The more this understanding
z:ens . Benjamin economic terrains . grows, the more national peace is
992) define iv) Improves personal lives: Enighe enshrined. Thus ethnic rivalry
ilology as the and Echu (2004:3) define and clashes are held in check.
1g, organizing, information as the source of the vi) Professionalism: ENG has
ulatin g and knowledge and intelligence that helped to build professionalism
ation. ENG is individuals or groups need to into reporting. Reporters have
system of make the right decisions. developed professional habits of
·, transmitting Television news communicate a being mentally alert, prepared
lOll. lot of useful information that a and flexible for the thorough
nationa l knowledgeable viewer can make coverage of even spot news at the
National use of. Wise viewers use the shortest or even no notice at all!
the complex knowledge to store, apply and Cremer at al (p.234) is of the
etween the share information gathered from opinion that the goal of the
and political the television news to improve on reporters is to stay on top of the
ation and is their personal, political, social news by being the first to report it
·iated with and economic lives. Television in a highly competitive field and
sperity. What news provides information and getting the news right.
te news can impart knowledge. Thus the vii) International scene: ENG has
ct national citizens are enabled to tap into helped in the wide spreading of
National new ideas, innovations and ideas and participatio n of
ked with the technology. These in turn lead to Nigerians in the global economy.
and political the proliferation of new Countries that have the most
d among the knowledge and the consequent developed technologies are also
and even with creation of new wealth and more countries that have the most
her coun tries. opportunities for the citizens. buoyant econom ies and
ased on the v) National peace : ENG Improves advancement. Ni gerians are
.on available to our understanding of ourselves. tapping into the world economy
ay be a policy Communicating means making and actively p articipating
!ker, employer, common.. Part of the regular because t he technology of ENG
etc. Therefore television news package is the brings into their homes rapid,
Teets national making common of our different diverse ideas. These ideas create
[her words the cultural heritage-no matter how a wide field of opportunities. Thus
of ENG 1s diverse they are- through the ENG bridges the intellectual and
anomie and transmission of our cultural economic differences of Nigerians
for the citizens values to other members of the with that of the outside world.
o socialize to society. The more common others viii)Cost reduction: ENG provides
Us. Knowledge of different cultural backgrounds for the rapid dissemination of

umication Studies International Journal of Communication No.4 June, 2006

 A RJRJGUZOH STELLAAMARAEBJUGWU 168 169 ELEC

news and ideas relatively cheaply r esponsibilities. Today w e h ave busine s ~

an d e fficie n tly ac r os s
ge o graphical and ec on o m ic
barriers. A single r epor ter can get
the pictu res r equir ed of a n
important news s ou r ce or even
interview h im . This is the n
transmitted arou nd the world
even by stations which ordinarily
would neither have had a ccess to
such a personality nor afford the
cost of sending th eir o wn
personnel to d o the job .
ix) Job creation: The purchasing,
installation and maintenance of
the ENG equipmen t and cr ew
have led t o the crea tion of new
jobs. Highly skilled personnel are
needed and employed. Some
migra t e from other regions into
the towns with t elevision stations.
Indir ectly , they h elp to boost the
econ o mic gr owth a n d
developm ent of these areas. On
the oth er hand, emp loyee
migratio n incre ases urban
congestion a nd its a ttenda n t
chaos.
x) Station Management: ENG h a s
had a broad impact on broadcast
station management by causing
changes in station organization
and operations. New tasks and
skill requirements have evolved
tha t mix information technology
and broadcasting together in the
news gathering process .
Reporters now learn t he new
skills of operating basic ENG
equipment . New tasks hav e
created new job definitions and
E NG co o r d i n ators , systems running 1
ma n ager s a nd s a te ll it e E NG al~
p r o grammer s worki ng i n
harmon y with broadcast news
r eporters . Moving out of the n ews n egative
and t h e control rooms to th e field criminals
where the news is being made and even dem
recorded has furt h er brought their pro
. . I
mem b er s of these different fields te1ev1s10n
together and built up the team th ey are
spirit. Even takin g the en tire . publicity
newscast on the road involves other sim
other station p e rsonnel like make sp
prom otio ns , ad m in istr a t i o n , groups li
m arketing, programming a n d th e Niger
engineering . The s e person n el Boys in A
may have never had any d irect and the
contact with the news ga thering (OPC) in L
process. faded aw
xi) Government operations: ENG
has h elped t o ensure greater r e c ord i r
'
~~~~raJ:t
t ransp arency in p ublic a nd
private operations. Governm ent
officials and bus iness men with disruptin
dubious intentions are now wary governme
and more transparent in the xii) Politics:
running of t heir offices and in the h ave imp
conduct of their business e s p olitickin
b ecause they do not know (1991 :7 )
whether some trou blesome and m edia co
nosey journalists are h id ing overflow
somewhere recording or filming a bout so
their actions and h olding them activities
a ccountable! Thus ENG is a is not an
powerful tool against corruption event. H
and also deters malfeasance. carried
Thus the citizens are embold ened formatio
to ask the government qu es tions attitudes
on revenue and exp enditure. ENG personne
has· therefore h elp ed to imp rove stories b

An l ntertlisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies International Jo

 fUEBIUGWU 168 169 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATH ERING: IMPACT, IMPLICA TIONS AND CHALLENGES

Today we have busin e ss p ractices and the into perspective , interpreting

ttors, systems running of government. Because them and even indicatin g the
nd satellite ENG also helps to report the values to be used in judging the
1 working in gover nment side, it has helped to stories . Bojuwade is of the
broadcast news win greater public trust. On the opinion that television does this
gout of the n ews negative side, deviant groups, most because it appears to be the
oom s to the field criminals, militant groups and most potent medium for stirring
s being made and even demonstrators wait to stage emotions and creating politically
further brought their protests when there are relevant mental images.
;e different field s television cameras to record what
tilt up the team they are doing. Because of the CONCLUS ION
king the entire publicity they have attracted The introduction of ENG brought both
.e road involves other similar groups spring up to benefits and problems in news
personn el like make spurious demands. Such reporting. ENG took television news
tdminis t ration, groups like the Egbesun Boys in reporting to another level: the level of
tgrammin g and the Niger Delta area, the Bakassi live coverage. However immediate or
nese per sonnel Boys in Anambra and Abia States live coverage is completely unedited.
had any direct and the Odua People's Congress This leaves the probability of
i news ga thering (OPC) in Lagos would have quietly inaccuracies or lies being told on air!
faded away into oblivion if the Similarly, live reports may violate
~erations: E NG television cameras have not been professional conduct or ethical
ensure grea ter r e c o ·r din g t h e i r ex p 1o it s , procedures and ignore good taste as
in p ublic a nd kidnappings, killings and the reporter's immediate task is to be
ns . Government destruction of goods and the first on the air with the report.
;iness men with disrupting of services of both the However the Nigerian television
ns are now wary government and the citizens. industry has not fully taken
sparent in the xii) Politics: ENG and n ews reporting advantage of the wonders of ENG,
)ffices and in the have implications on politics and probably due to financial constraints.
eir businesses politicking. However, Bojuwade But the on going revolution in
d o not k n ow ( 1991 :7) observes that most communic ation technology , stiff
roublesome and media content are not explicit but competition and the global outlook
;ts are hiding overflow with implicit messages would definitely force them to acquire
rding or filming about social order and political and use thes e n ew technologies.
d holding them activities. To him therefore news
u s ENG is a is not an event but a report of an
ainst corruption event. He adds that information
·s malfeasance. carried by the media leads to
are embold ened formation of significant political
1ment questions attitudes and emotions. Media
Kpenditure. E NG personnel assign meanings to
1lped to improve stories by putting those stories

tnmunication Studies International Journal of Communication No.4 June, 2006

 ARIRIGUZOH STELLAAMARAEBIUGWU 170 171 ELEC

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'Unication Studies Intermltiomll Journal of Communication No. 4 June, 2006

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