Types of Newspapers in Nigeria

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Check out the Types of Newspapers in Nigeria. All over the world, newspapers are grouped by the size of the sheet of their papers and categorized by the frequency of their publication. Nigeria is no different. In Nigeria, there are different types of newspapers published in a number of niches and in a number of size formats for different audiences who enjoy them in a number of periodic releases. Newspapers have traditionally played a vital role in shaping the structure of Nigeria as it is today. During the colonial era, newspapers were vital in rallying the people to join voices in declaring that they were fed up with the elitist and suppressive ideologies of the colonialists, and wanted to govern themselves. Similarly, during the long military era, it was the press houses that spearheaded the fight for a return to the civilian government. As a matter of fact, pressmen like Dele Giwa paid the ultimate price for this clamor, while others like Dele Momodu abandoned their possessions and fled, while another number of them sacrificed their freedoms.

But Politics is not the only feature of a newspaper, and national circulation is not the only criteria by which a newspaper qualifies for a mention. Every people is important, and so every newspaper that serves a given group of people is likewise important. Some newspapers have a smaller circulation, thereby serving the information needs of a smaller area, while other newspapers maintain a specific subject of interest. As long as they are serving a number of people and filling a need, they are important and worthy of mention.

In this article, we will try to break it down as much as possible into subcategories so that no section of the newspapers in Nigeria will be left out.

Types of Newspapers in Nigeria

Without any further ado let us now delve into the different types of newspapers that we have in Nigeria, and also look the different categories that they can be put, as well as talk a little about what makes them tick.

  • National Dailies

The newspaper industry in Nigeria has grown from strength since Daily times Newspapers was first published in 1925, and the Tribune in 1949. Those newspapers have attained legendary status today and continue to thrive, although the former went moribund for a time, and resuscitated by the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians who knew better than to let such a great newspaper die. the former has been perhaps the most powerful and sustained political voice in Nigeria, having been founded by the late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, and used to further his political agenda, which were populist in nature, and supported the independence movement.

As the name implies, National dailies, newspapers that are published each day or at least every weekday, are intended to be circulated nationwide.  Generally, they have a predominant focus on national news and usually discuss politics on a national level. However, in order to reach the grassroots, many newspapers now feature ‘smaller news’ from across the towns and cities in the country. As expected, National newspapers also feature prominent news items that trend on the international scene.

National dailies also diversify their areas of focus to bring in segments that feature romance and relationships, business and finance, politics, education, religion, job search, technology, and so on. Without a doubt National Dailies are the creme of newspapers in Nigeria- they are what every other kind of paper dreams to be.

Other Newspapers in this category include Guardian Newspapers, Champion Newspapers, Sun Newspapers, Punch Newspapers, Leadership Newspapers, and so on.

  • Geographical Papers (Metropolitan Dailies for our Foreign readers)

Geographical Papers are newspapers just like their national counterparts but are designed to fill the needs of a specific area. They are published with the same frequency as national dailies but the news articles are all taken from a geographical region, usually one to 3 states. they then discuss the politics of that combined area, and also the developmental and environmental issues affecting them all. The papers are usually written the language of the people of the area so as to reach the hearts of the grassroots, and it goes without saying the adverts that feature in these papers are from local and regional areas. These newspapers will usually have a page or even a section devoted to national news, but that is all. They spend the rest of their time and resources covering state or regional issues, traditional events, lifestyles, entertainment, and sports.

Triumph Newspapers which has been published in Kano since 1980 is an example of a paper that serves the people of Kano, as well as other major cities in the North. P>M< news is another stellar example, it has been published in Lagos since 1994. Ka O Di Taa is a recent addition to this list, having come on board in 2017, in Awka in Anambra state.

Other Newspapers in this category are Alaroye, People’s Daily, Osun Defender, Compass Newspaper, and so on.

  • Academic Community Newspapers

That is just a fancy way of saying School Newspapers or University Newspapers. This type of newspapers has been quite popular in Nigeria and traces its importance to the heyday of Student activism in Nigeria, which was during the military era when the students often mobilized to protest the terrible government policies that were regularly implemented in Nigeria at the time. Although the importance of student newspapers have generally waned over time, they still remain quite popular.

  • Niche Newspapers

Niche Newspapers may seem like a bad idea to an entrepreneur, but in contrast, Nigeria has been a very good fertile ground for the proliferation and success of this type of newspaper. They deal with a particular subject and try to give in-depth and thorough coverage of that particular subject.

Examples of this type of Newspapers are Complete Sports which has been published in Nigeria since 1995; Politics Nigeria, since 2016; Business Day since 2005; Business Hallmark, also since 2005; Success Digest.

  • Weeklies and Semi-Weeklies

Weeklies and semi-weeklies differ from daily newspapers in one major way: they are not printed daily, but instead are printed periodically. This could be weekly every 2 weeks, or even monthly. A major positive to these types of newspapers is that they can have a wider reach in their circulation because papers are printed well ahead of circulation date, and can therefore be transported as far as it is necessary to do so. Some of the newspapers in this category are niche newspapers and so could also be listed here as well, but some others manage to maintain a wider area of focus, including articles that delve into politics, sports, religion, education, and other important areas of concentration to the people.

That’s all about the types Of News Papers In Nigeria.

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