Integration of Information Communication Technology in Journalism Practice: A Survey of Journalists in Ekiti Metropolis, Nigeria

The aim of this study was predicated on the need to ascertain the extent to which Nigerian Journalists, especially those in the state capital of Ekiti state; have integrated the use of information communication technology (ICT) tools in their journalism practice which includes, but not limited to; news gathering, dissemination etc. The objectives among others is to decipher the extent of use and the adoption of new information communication technologies in journalism practise. A total of thirty four (34) TV and radio journalists were sampled with a view to ascertain their use and types ICT tools employed for the achievement of communication efficiency. Despite the perceived importance of the role of ICT in improving communication efficiency (as opined by 97% of the respondents), findings from this study revealed that the use of modern ICT tools were not fully employed for their day to day task execution. Also, only 24% of the respondents agreed to the availability and free access to internet facility in their day to day operations while 64.7% own or have personal access through their owned devices. The challenges enumerated by journalists includes lack of corporate internet access and information, technology hardware and software configurations that are crucial to journalism in new media practice. Hence, it is recommended media proprietors should provide as part of the work environment, modern facilities to enable journalists discharge their duties in line with international best practices

Health Detriment Associated with Exposure to Natural Radioactivity from the Soil of Ondo and Ekiti States South Western, Nigeria

The health detriment associated with human exposure to primordial radionuclides from the earth crust has been a major source of concern to public health observers across the globe. The level of such detriment can be mitigated by continuous monitoring in order to ascertain that the safe threshold is maintained from time to time. In the light of the above, the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radioactivity (i.e 232Th, 226Ra and 40K) were determined in seventeen soil samples collected from selected cities across Ondo and Ekiti States using gamma ray spectrometry. The measured activity concentrations ranged from 31.93±1.77 to 227.50±4.43 Bq Kg-1 for 232Th, 45.60±2.99 to 210.36±8.76 Bq Kg-1 for 226Ra, 364.89±6.40 to 1274.57±12.48 Bq Kg-1 for 40K, and 48.64±2.04 to 207.22±5.50 Bq Kg-1 for 232Th, 73.52±3.81 to 209.15±7.45 Bq Kg-1 for 226Ra, 542.26±10.41 to 2348.86±21.83 Bq Kg-1 for 40K for Ondo and Ekiti States, respectively. Absorbed dose was calculated using the measured activity concentrations. The mean absorbed dose rate and standard deviation in nGy h-1 were 140.89±65.27 and 173.27±85.40 for Ondo and Ekiti States, respectively. These results are beyond the limits (30 nGy h-1-70 nGy h-1) recommended by UNSCEAR, 1988 for area of normal background radiation. Health detriment to various organs of the body resulting from the exposure scenario was evaluated