By Fatimah Muhammed
Dr Sunday Isuwa, Leadership Newspaper Group News Editor, has authored a book examining the digital transformation of Nigeria’s newspaper industry that would be launched in October.
The book, titled “Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry,” explores how technological advancement is reshaping newsroom operations, journalism practice, business models and audience engagement.
The book is scheduled for launch at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 at the Conference Hall of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters, behind the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
Prof. Umaru Pate of Bayero University, Kano, described the book as a timely examination of the changes taking place in Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Pate said the publication examined newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, emerging revenue strategies, misinformation and changing audience behaviour.
He said that the book drew on contemporary evidence and practical examples to examine the opportunities and challenges created by digital transformation.
Similarly, Prof. Farooq Kperogi of Kennesaw State University, United States, said the book provided an account of how Nigerian newspapers are responding to the demands of the digital era.
Kperogi said Isuwa drew on empirical research and professional experience to examine changes in editorial routines, business models and audience strategies as legacy newsrooms transitioned from print to digital platforms.
According to Kperogi, the publication fills an important gap in African media scholarship by examining how technological change is reshaping 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
Malam Ali M. Ali, The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the publication as a comprehensive account of the transformation of the Nigerian press.
Ali said the book traced the history of Nigerian newspapers from their colonial origins to the changes brought about by the digital revolution.
According to him, it examines how newsrooms had adapted to technological advancement, restructured their business models and diversified revenue streams as audiences increasingly consumed news through mobile devices.
“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,” Ali said.
Ali said the publication also placed Nigeria’s media transformation within a global context through comparative analysis and case studies.
He urged media professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to attend the launch and contribute to discussions on the future of journalism in Nigeria.
The launch will feature Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), as foreword writer, while NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, will review the book.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC) are expected to chair the event.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz