Styles of Communication (Jul 2022)

Influence of Digital Technologies on Journalism Practice in The Gambia

  • Barikui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.31178/SC.14.1.01
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 9 – 26

Abstract

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Digital technologies have created tremendous impact on the practice of journalism, Africa inclusive. These technologies have changed the narratives in newsgathering, processing, dissemination, and fact-checking, in addition to the access and use of media content. To this end, the major objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of digital technologies on journalism practice in The Gambia. The research design was survey. While the sampling techniques were simple random and convenience sampling techniques; the research instruments were questionnaire and interview. Two key findings of the research were that digital technologies have engendered convergence and multi-media journalism; and that the Internet, social media, and smart phones have transformed the landscape of journalism in The Gambia. The author recommended, amongst others, that modern journalists must be trained in multi-tasking as result of the challenge thrown up by convergence.

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