ICTs AND NEW MEDIA

Public Relations (public relations (PR)) is increasingly recognized as a strategic communication function that strengthens organizational legitimacy, nurtures trust, and manages reputation in complex social and political environments. In Nigeria, yet it must be acknowledged, public relations (PR) measurement has traditionally relied on narrow indicators such as press clippings, media mentions, and publicity reports. These media-centric methods privilege visibility over effectiveness and fall short of adequately to capture public relations (PR)'s broader contributions to stakeholder relationships, behavioral outcomes, and societal impact. Anchored on Excellence Theory, which frames public relations (PR) as a strategic management function, and the Barcelona Principles of Communication Measurement and Evaluation, which emphasize outcomeoriented, transparent, and multidimensional systematic assessment, this conceptual paper interrogates the limitations of traditional systematic assessment conceptual approaches when examined within the Nigerian socio-political and cultural context. Drawing on both global scholarship and Nigerian literature, it examines the cultural, institutional, and political factors that have shaped local practices and hindered methodological innovation. The study proposes a holistic conceptual approach that integrates international best practices with Nigeria's contextual realities, encouraging practitioners to embrace methods that combine qualitative and quantitative metrics. It recommends three key steps: abandoning outdated metrics such as Advertising Value Equivalence (AVE); adopting the Barcelona Principles to align communication with organizational and societal goals; and fostering collaboration between academia, practitioners, and professional associations to develop locally relevant standards. By advancing this multidimensional and context-sensitive perspective, the paper contributes to theory-building in public relations (PR) and offers practical insights for redefining systematic assessment when examined within the Nigerian socio-political and cultural context. Ultimately, it contends that rigorous and credible systematic assessment practices are essential for enhancing the profession's accountability, relevance, and long-term impact.

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of social media on public awareness of NIN-SIM card registration in Nigeria. For this case study, the Technology Acceptance Model was applied. The model seeks to explain how and why individuals adopt new technologies, particularly in relation to new information communication systems, and further clarifies the primary reasons for adoption, recognition, acceptance, and application of such technologies. The study employed a scoping review. The results of the investigation indicated that the majority of social media platforms were highly effective in facilitating the integration of various groups into broad government initiatives such as the SIM card-NIN registration policy. The findings revealed that, in relation to Nigeria's SIM card-National Identification Number (NIN) registration initiative, social media platforms such as X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and others were utilised with great precision to raise policy awareness among the populace. The paper deduced that, in the Nigerian context, social media platforms like X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, etc., are instrumental in broadcasting information about government policies. The paper recommends that the Government of Nigeria should initiate and implement a positive social media policy framework aimed at encouraging effective public participation in government policies and programmes. Furthermore, there is a need to monitor information on social media to ensure its quality, reliability, confidentiality, and privacy, especially in matters relating to national security. The credibility of sources should also be taken into account to ensure the authenticity of the information being shared.

The application of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic research is rapidly expanding worldwide, raising questions about levels of awareness, patterns of use, and associated challenges. This study assesses the use of AI for research and academic writing among academic staff at Nasarawa State University and the University of Abuja, Nigeria. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, a survey design was employed, and data were collected from 300 respondents through structured questionnaires. Findings reveal that academics apply AI to support idea generation, structure research methodologies, review and synthesize literature, and facilitate data collection, sorting, and analysis. AI tools were also found useful for qualitative data coding, grammar and spelling checks, editing, and data management. Respondents acknowledged AI’s ability to enhance sentence construction, contextual understanding, information processing, and textual coherence. Despite these benefits, utilisation remains moderate and is constrained by ethical concerns. The study recommends that Nigerian higher institutions develop clear guidelines to promote the ethical use of AI in research and academic writing. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, research, academic writing, Technology Acceptance Mode

Lifecourse transitions from adulthood into older age are particularly complex for transnational migrants, bringing additional challenges and opportunities. Adding to the growing literature on ageing and migration, this article illustrates the ways ICTs facilitate the transnational lifecourse transitions of Vietnamese migrant grandparents in Australia through lifecourse digital learning. Research findings highlight the crucial role that digital citizenship plays in supporting migrant grandparents' adaptation to increasingly mobile lives through practices of digital kinning and digital homing. These practices include using technological tools to maintain social support networks, exchange transnational caregiving, tackle language, navigation, and social integration barriers, and consume culturally relevant media, all of which support migrant identities and belongings. Findings confirm the importance of ICTs in promoting lifecourse digital learning for older migrants who are often stereotyped for their poor learning capacities and ability to adapt to new living arrangements because of their older age.

Trinta anos depois dos debates sobre a Nova Ordem Mundial da Informação e Comunicação (NOMIC), as desigualdades nos fluxos globais de informação permanecem,porém num contexto em que a produção e a circulação são facilitadas pelas novas tecnologias (NTICs). Este trabalho identifica fatores que contribuem para este aparente paradoxo e propõe mudanças na práxis jornalística – particularmente na cobertura internacional – que podem permitir aos países em desenvolvimento alcançar os objetivos pleiteados pela NOMIC.

(fevereiro de 2009)

The chapter explores how bloggers in two Zambian online publications re-present women politicians and  how interlopers 'frame' such politicians so as to exclude them from the public spaces. It argues that ICTs are generally thought to be facilitators of women's empowerment, but they can also be used to dis-empower  the women with the full utilisation of cultural or religious frames and practices