Nigeria’s online news market is rapidly expanding. Nigeria boasts over 122.5 million internet users, many of whom access social media such as WhatsApp and TikTok for short-form video consumption. Get the Best information about NewsNow Nigeria.
This research utilized quantitative content analysis to explore coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in four widely-read online newspapers. Newspapers were evaluated based on frequency, depth, story format, news sources, and media tone.
Social media
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, with the most prominent democracy and economy. Nigeria boasts a vibrant media industry with numerous newspapers covering topics ranging from politics, business, sports, and culture to English-language publications catering to specific states or regions.
Nigeria’s public school system is struggling, yet dedicated volunteers are working to turn things around.
Nigerian police arrested 67 individuals celebrating a gay wedding in one of the most significant mass arrests ever targeting homosexuality, which is illegal there. Nigeria’s government claims it’s taking measures to tackle corruption and increase security in this oil-rich West African state.
Nigeria’s statistics agency recently unveiled unemployment data, showing a rate of 4.1% – marking a multi-decade low and, according to some analysts, an underestimate.
Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), after being accused of human rights abuses and widespread protests, has been disbanded following human rights abuses and widespread demonstrations. But Nigerian law enforcement will not go backward; new security chief says SARS legacy will live on; promises to fight corruption and eliminate violence within police force; believes Nigeria is more vital now than ever before
Traditional media
Traditional media in Nigeria is a critical source of news and information, offering local, regional, and national coverage via television, radio, and newspaper channels. Nigerian newspapers can be found both in English as well as Hausa and Yoruba languages – major print newspapers include The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, and Guardian; online news sites also exist; Nigeria’s digital news market has experienced rapid expansion as its users embrace Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok short-form video services to stay informed.
Though new media offers several advantages, experts remain critical and view it as lacking in journalism. This criticism stems mainly from its unregulated nature and tendency to fuel organized hatred – fuelling disagreements into major crises or conflicts; also, a contributing factor is journalistic professionalism lacking among practitioners of new media journalism.
An additional significant problem lies with the increasing trend of journalists leaving traditional media careers and starting their websites, particularly in Nigeria, where finding work as a journalist is often challenging due to the oppressive climate and limited job opportunities. This trend has become even more notable as journalists take steps towards self-sufficiency to support their families financially.
Online journalism
Online journalism refers to the technical work involved with news writing, information gathering, and editing for digital publication, transmission, and distribution. This type of journalism includes textual news reports and visual images such as videos or audio that feature hyperlinked structures that link other content relevant to its topic.
Online journalists have an advantage when publishing breaking news in real-time and publishing at times that optimize reader engagement. Yet their most significant challenge remains finding a sustainable business model; newspapers have drastically cut staff and production to maximize profits, reducing employment opportunities for photographers, writers, and printers.
Nigerians are turning increasingly to online media for news. A variety of websites have emerged to meet this demand and provide Nigerians with information from politics, sports, and entertainment; this trend has created new skills within journalism industries and altered how journalists work – whether traditional print journalism or online journalism, journalists must provide accurate yet unbiased reporting that’s quick, timely, accurate and inclusive of multiple perspectives.
Digital journalism
Digital journalism is an emerging trend in Nigeria’s media environment. It involves journalists gathering, assessing, and reporting facts gathered online for reward. This information can then be disseminated through media platforms. Although publishers face various challenges when publishing news online, some have established themselves as successful examples of this type of journalism in Nigeria.
Traditional journalism played an essential role in democracy in Nigeria. But with the rise of social media and new online news outlets, traditional media are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in reach and impact, raising concerns over their regulation.
In this paper, we use data collected through an English-speaking Nigerian online news user survey to explore how the landscape is shifting. Our findings demonstrate how traditional and new digital media have distinct audiences with differing levels of trust; generally speaking, traditional media are seen as more trustworthy than social media. These results also emphasize journalists’ roles and responsibilities within this changing environment and government regulation of new media business models to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms while positioning the media industry to more effectively fulfill its democratic roles in a post-truth world.
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