Journalist Sunday Isuwa to launch book on digital transformation of Nigerian newspapers

Sunday Isuwa, Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, is set to launch a book examining the transformation of Nigeria’s newspaper industry in the digital era.

The book, Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, will be launched on 29 October at the Conference Hall of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Mr Isuwa said the book examines how technological advances are changing journalism in Nigeria, from newsroom operations and reporting practices to business models and the ways news organisations engage their audiences.

The publication comes at a time when traditional Nigerian newspapers are increasingly expanding beyond print to websites, social media, video and other digital platforms in response to changing patterns of news consumption.

While the transition has allowed news organisations to reach audiences beyond their traditional print readership, it has also intensified questions about sustainable revenue, misinformation, audience behaviour and the balance between speed and accuracy.

These are among the issues Mr Isuwa explores in the book.

Media scholars weigh in

The President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), Rotimi Olatunji, a professor at Lagos State University (LASU), wrote the foreword to the book.

The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Uduma Oji Uduma, is scheduled to review the publication at the launch.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, who chairs the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), is expected to chair the event.

Umaru Pate, a professor at the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, described the book as a timely examination of the changes confronting Nigeria’s newspaper industry.

Mr Pate said the publication addresses newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, emerging revenue strategies, misinformation and changing audience habits.

“This book delves into newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, innovative revenue strategies, and the challenges presented by misinformation and shifting audience habits,” he said.

He added that the book draws on contemporary evidence and practical examples to examine both the opportunities and challenges created by the industry’s digital transformation.

Mr Pate recommended the publication to journalists, media scholars, policymakers and students seeking to understand the changing journalism landscape.

Legacy newsrooms

Farooq Kperogi, a professor at Kennesaw State University in the United States, said the book examines how traditional Nigerian newspapers are responding to the demands of digital publishing.

According to Mr Kperogi, Mr Isuwa combines empirical research with professional experience to examine changes in editorial routines, business models and audience strategies as legacy newsrooms transition from print to digital platforms.

He said the publication also situates developments in the Nigerian media industry within broader global changes while paying attention to the country’s political environment, infrastructural challenges and media culture.

Mr Kperogi said the book contributes to African media scholarship by examining the implications of technological change for the ethical, economic and professional foundations of journalism.

“It is essential reading for journalists, media managers, policymakers and students who want a concise but substantive guide to the forces that are transforming Nigerian news ecology,” he said.

From print to digital

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, also described the book as an account of the transformation of the Nigerian press.

Mr Ali said the publication traces the development of Nigerian newspapers from the colonial period to the disruption brought about by digital technology.

According to him, it examines how newsrooms have adapted to technological advances, restructured their business models and sought new revenue streams as more audiences consume news through mobile and digital platforms.

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He said the book also addresses some of the ethical and professional challenges facing contemporary journalists, particularly the tension between publishing quickly and ensuring accuracy.

“It considers the ethical and professional challenges faced by journalists today, highlighting the delicate balance between immediacy and accuracy, as well as the complexities of freedom of expression under regulatory pressures,” Mr Ali said.

He added that the publication uses comparative analysis and case studies to situate the experience of Nigerian newspapers within broader developments in the global media industry.

The book also considers the future of newspaper publishing in an increasingly digital Nigeria and offers recommendations for journalists, editors, media managers, policymakers and other stakeholders.

Mr Ali urged media professionals, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders to attend the launch, saying it would also provide an opportunity for conversations about the future of journalism in Nigeria.

The event is expected to bring together members of Nigeria’s media and academic communities.