The invention of the World Wide Web in the last decade has made information sharing very personal, convenient and easy. The growing trend of this new communication has facilitated the establishment of a medium through which news can be accessed without the purchase of a hardcopy newspaper, radio or television. Because of this, almost all television and radio stations as well as hardcopy newspapers in Ghana have an online representation of news.
Could the introduction of the internet and online news portals be taking over from the traditional media or these portals complement traditional media? Data collected and findings of the study indicated that online news portals directly have an impact on the patronage of newspapers in Ghana but have not totally displaced newspapers. This is because while most respondents heavily depended on online news portals for information and majority felt satisfied, few others relied on newspapers for specific information such as job advertisements.
Keywords: social media, online news, newspapers, news websites, newspaper patronage.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER IN GHANA
INTERNET IN GHANA
INTERNET PROVIDERS IN GHANA
DIGITAL MEDIA IN GHANA AND NEWSPAPERS
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
HOW INTRODUCTION OF ONLINE NEWS PORTALS AFFECT NEWSPAPERS
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
USES AND GRATIFICATIONS THEORY
CATEGORIES OF USES AND GRATIFICATIONS
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH APPROACH AND DESIGN
RESEARCH SETTING
POPULATION AND SAMPLE SIZE
SAMPLING METHOD
QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
ETHICAL ISSUES
CHALLENGES
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
LIMITATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to investigate the impact of the rise of online news portals on the patronage and relevance of traditional newspapers in Ghana. By analyzing media consumption patterns among communication students, the research seeks to determine whether digital platforms are effectively displacing traditional print media or if both mediums can coexist to satisfy different informational needs.
- The shifting preference of news audiences from print to digital media.
- Application of the Uses and Gratifications theory to understand audience motivation.
- Comparative analysis of convenience, cost, and accessibility between online and print news.
- The role of specific content, such as job advertisements, in sustaining print newspaper readership.
Excerpt from the Book
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER IN GHANA
Newspapers in Ghana have played key roles in political discourse, national identity, and culture. Emerging in the nineteenth century, the news media have given voice to popular campaigns for independence, national unity, development, and democracy throughout the twentieth century, establishing a distinguished history of political activism for Ghanaian media.
The first newspaper, The Gold Coast Gazette and Commercial Intelligencer, was published from 1822-25 by Sir Charles MacCarthy, governor of the British Gold Coast settlement. As a semi-official organ of the colonial government, the central goal of this Cape Coast newspaper was to provide information to European merchants and civil servants in the colony. With the growing number of mission-educated Africans in the Gold Coast, the newspaper also aimed at promoting literacy, encouraging rural development, and suppressing the political aspirations of this class of native elites by securing their loyalty and conformity with the colonial system. The appropriation of print media by local African elites began in mid-century with the publication of The Accra Herald by Charles Bannerman. Though handwritten newspaper, Accra Herald endured for 16 years. The success of Bannerman's newspaper stimulated the proliferation of African-owned newspapers in the late nineteenth century, among them were the Gold Coast Times, Western Echo, Gold Coast Assize, Gold Coast News, Gold Coast Aborigines, Gold Coast Chronicle, Gold Coast People, Gold Coast Independent, and Gold Coast Express.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides an introduction to the study, including the background of the newspaper industry in Ghana, the emergence of the internet, and the problem statement.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews existing literature regarding media technology and theoretical frameworks, specifically focusing on the Uses and Gratifications theory.
CHAPTER THREE: Details the research methodology, including the quantitative approach, sampling methods, and data collection tools used for the study.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents the collected data, providing analysis and findings based on the survey responses from communication students.
CHAPTER FIVE: Discusses the findings of the research, draws conclusions regarding the impact of online portals on newspapers, and provides recommendations.
Keywords
Online News Portals, Newspaper Patronage, Ghana, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Digital Media, Media Consumption, Print Media, Information Circulation, Internet Usage, Audience Motivation, Traditional Media, News Websites, Communication Students, Media Landscape, Journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The study investigates the impact of online news portals on the patronage of printed newspapers in Ghana, specifically examining how the shift toward digital platforms affects traditional newspaper readership.
What are the central thematic fields?
The research covers the historical context of Ghanaian newspapers, the evolution of internet accessibility in Ghana, and the changing media consumption patterns of communication students.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to determine if online news portals are complementing traditional media or rendering print newspapers unpopular by competing for the same audience.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The study employs a quantitative research design using self-administered questionnaires to collect data from a sample of 80 students at the African University College of Communication (AUCC).
What is covered in the main section of the work?
The main sections include a literature review of media technology, an explanation of the Uses and Gratifications theory, a comprehensive methodology, and a detailed analysis of findings based on survey data.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Online News Portals, Newspaper Patronage, Digital Media, Uses and Gratifications Theory, and Traditional Media.
Why were AUCC students chosen as the primary respondents?
These students were selected because they are active users of diverse media sources and represent the future generation of media content creators.
What is the significance of the Uses and Gratifications theory here?
It provides a framework to understand why audiences choose specific media channels based on their personal needs, motivations, and the gratifications they expect to receive.
Do the findings suggest that print newspapers will disappear entirely?
The findings indicate that while online portals have a significant impact, newspapers are not yet totally displaced, as some users still rely on them for specific information like job advertisements.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mavis Boamah (Autor:in), 2015, Impact of online newsportals on the patronage of newspapers in Ghana, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/424099
