New Technologies and Journalistic Practices at the Time of COVID-19 in Africa
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Advances in Journalism and Communication
Abstract
Abstract
This article aimed to show how new information technologies have influenced
and innovated journalism practice during COVID-19 in terms of collecting,
processing and disseminating news and information. The study was
literature based. A literature-based study primarily relies on existing published
literature rather than collecting primary data through experiments or
surveys. The findings reveal that the management of new information technologies
has led to the rise of infodemia, a phenomenon of misinformation
that disrupts the informational ecosystem due to the prevalence of erroneous
or misleading news. As a result, the media’s role as a watchdog is compromised.
Infodemia has become the most prominent dimension of this challenge,
with traditional media struggling to maintain their status as reliable
source of information amidst the influence of amateur journalism on social
media. The traditional media plays a crucial role in covering COVID-19 but
faces challenges in producing and disseminating accurate information due to
the specialization of journalism and the shortage of specialists. The emergence
of new categories of journalistic practices, including terrorist journalism,
diversionary journalism, ideological journalism, and journalism as a
business, poses a major threat to the credibility, trust, and timeliness of real
news. New technologies, particularly social media, have filled the void left by
traditional media and facilitated the spread of fake news and rumors. Despite
the challenges, information and communication technologies have brought
innovation to journalistic practices in raising awareness against COVID-19 in
Africa. The study provides several recommendations based on its findings.
Traditional media outlets in Africa are recommended to prioritize hiring and
training specialist journalists to cover health-related topics, establishing measures
to combat the spread of fake news and rumors related to COVID-19, continuing
to adapt to the use of new technologies in disseminating information,
upholding ethical standards in reporting, and prioritizing public health
awareness and prevention. Lastly, the study suggests the need for further research
to better understand the impact of new communication technologies
on journalistic practices in Africa in the context of COVID-19.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
New Technologies, Traditional Media, Journalism, COVID 19 Pandemic, Infodemia
Citation
Jean-Paul, P. K., Erneo, N. N., & Rosemary, N.-K. (2023). New Technologies and Journalistic Practices at the Time of COVID-19 in Africa. Advances in Journalism and Communication, 11, 281-296.
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