IMPACT OF PRINT MEDIA (NEWSPAPER) IN SHAPING THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE

IMPACT OF PRINT MEDIA (NEWSPAPER) IN SHAPING THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In all aspects of social life, the genesis of a new decade triggers to an effort to summarize and characterize what happened from the past years and to look forward to challenges – the genesis of a new era. The press (newspaper) stands as link between old and new. A regime that newly arrives into power can blame its predecessor for some economic problem and it uses the press (newspaper) to compare its records in funding popular services with past regime and reminds public the oppression they felt from the oppositions when they were in power, and to also praise government for the good work done when they were in power, all these tactics work effectively when they use the press. And this research work is focusing on newspaper as a print medium. The Nigerian press has been a vital source of government policy, news for opinion leaders and decision makers within a political structure as well as for the whole public. Those in decision making position who are not able to come in contact with the international communities for foreign policy rely on the press for such information or issues.
Nigeria came into existence as one entity in 1914 as a result of amalgamation of North and South protectorates under the governorship of Lord Fredrick Lugard. The political units that came together to form this nation were the old kingdoms whose system of interactions were complex before they started to interact with the Europeans. The periods also covered the annexation of Lagos as a crown colony, the quality and quantity of press coverage in the country during the agitation to self rule. Ogunsiji (1989:6) classifies the development of Nigerian press into four segments. These are the era of missionary journalism, the era of the alien-dominated press, the emergency of the indigenous press and the dawn of modern Nigerian newspapers. Before delving into the historical facts that have helped immensely to shape each era, it is essential to define what is known as newspaper as a print medium, and then point out that the birth and growth of the Nigerian press is a historical process in which many individuals participated without foreseeing what the ultimate product of their labour was to be. Newspaper is an unbounded publication usually issued on a daily, weekly, monthly, quart yearly, yearly basis, which has the main function of reporting. They also provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, Newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income. Print journalism started in Nigeria in 1846 with the installation of a printing press at Calabar by the Presbyterian mission. The primary purpose of installing
the printing press was to increase the level of literacy among local people so that they would be able to acquire more knowledge through reading of short stories and essays on various subjects, particularly religious matters

IMPACT OF PRINT MEDIA (NEWSPAPER) IN SHAPING THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE