INFORMATION PRACTICES AMONG STAFF OF DELTA STATE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, ASABA, DELTA STATE IN THE DIGITAL ERA

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of the advent of new media on the operations of information officers at the Delta State Ministry of Information. Employing a quantitative research approach, the study surveyed the opinions of staff members, collecting data that was presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages. The findings reveal that information officers are adapting to an increasingly digital, mobile, and platform-dominated environment, leading to the evolution of hybrid newsrooms within traditional media settings in Nigeria. This transformation is fundamentally altering workflows, organizational routines, and redefining journalistic roles in the digital age. Despite these advancements, the study indicates that Nigerian journalists primarily possess basic digital skills, such as using smartphones for interviews and engaging with social media platforms, while more advanced tools and skills, including data analytics and teleconferencing, remain underutilized. The research concludes that while there has been some progress in the integration of digital skills within the Nigerian media landscape, there is a significant gap in the adoption of advanced digital competencies. This gap is attributed to a lack of perceived value in digital skills training among media practitioners and insufficient government initiatives aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of journalists. The study emphasizes the critical importance of digital skills for modern newsrooms and recommends that news organizations encourage staff to acquire advanced digital competencies, prioritize audience engagement, and establish technology teams to meet the demands of creating and disseminating digital media products effectively. Overall, the findings underscore the necessity for ongoing training and support to ensure that journalists can operate effectively in a rapidly evolving digital environment.