Communication Media Convergence and Issues in Video Production, Distribution and Consumption among Nigerian Youths

Abstract

This work sets out to expose the issues in video production, distribution and consumption among Nigerian youths as orchestrated by communication media convergence. The paper examines information and technology effects, the easy access to movie production and distribution, and the ease of consumption which has further given rise to evolving issues including academic distraction, psychological disorders, addiction and death in some cases. These issues have also further corrupted the morals of feeble-minded Nigerian youths and caused several untold social instability in country. To explore the reality of communication media convergence and the accommodating technologies thereof, this paper adopts the triangulation (mixed) method of inquiry, using the quantitative and qualitative surveys and analysis, drawing from primary and secondary sources. A focus group discussion comprising fourteen (14) participants made up of Graduate students of Media and Communication Departments in the University of Calabar, Cross River State and Rivers State University, South-South Nigeria and a survey of 288 undergraduate students selected randomly from same universities in South-south and Nasarawa State University in Northern Nigeria was adopted. Findings showed that most Nigerian youths produce videos and transmit them through social media platforms with little or no knowledge of movie production skills and ethics and most of them are addicted to the contents of the communication media that have converged on the new technology. This paper concludes that the process of making and distributing videos among Nigerian youths as aided by new media has a lot of devastating effects on the youths and recommends social mobilization and massive orientation of Nigerian youths on the ethics of new media use.

Keywords: Communication, Consumption, Convergence, Distribution, Film, Media, Production, Video.