The Nigerian mass media started out with the publication of Iwe Iroyin; that was in 1859. It was published by Rev. Henry Townsend, who was a Briton. This represents the very first news media that was published in Nigeria and it was published in the southwest. The publication was in Yoruba language.
Both Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe established their own news outfits and they used these to promote their political interests. This continued till 1960 when Nigeria became an independent nation. It was learnt that the Nigerian newspapers that were available then contributed greatly to the achievement of Nigeria’s independence from Britain.
The federal government of Nigeria also established its own media outfit to counter the politics of the day that were geared against it by the existing newspapers then. Name of the federal government-owned newspaper then was The Morning Post.
The Nigerian people however revoked the said newspaper because the saw it as working in favor of the government against the true will of the Nigerian people. Consequently, the morning Post did not last at all.
Then later, the federal government decided to buy 60% of the shares of Daily Times. Many in those days viewed the Daily Times as a fair newspaper. This was exactly what prompted the federal government to buy the huge share; they intended to win the heart of the people through this means.
The Nigerian press had been at the forefront of fighting against wrong government policies right from inception. They were at the forefront during series of military ruler experienced by the country. They fired all cylinders to fight against oppression during the Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and through the time of Late Gen. Sanni Abacha.
Many are of the opinion that the Nigerian press was largely responsible for driving away military rule. Many journalists lost their lives during these years of fighting for democracy. Prominent among them was Mr. Dele Giwa, who was assassinated via a letter bomb.
Aside fighting to win democracy, the Nigerian press has been at the forefront of sustaining Nigeria’s nascent democracy. They do this by fighting against conception.
Aside the print media, the television stations have also played their part in the fight against corruption and in the defense of democracy. The Nigerian government took over complete control of the television and radio broadcasting in 1967.
This was however reversed during Gen. Babangida’s reign as part of his Structural Adjustment Program. From then on, privately owned television and radio stations were established.
The first privately owned radio station in Nigeria was Ray Power 100.5 FM. It started broadcasting in 1993. As at today, more than 25 privately owed radio stations are operating in Lagos state alone.
After Gen. Babangida promulgated decree 32 of 1992, which gave permission to private individuals to operate TV stations, 11 privately owned TV stations came on board. One of them was Clapperbaord, which is now referred to as Superscreen Television.
Others came later, like African Independent Television and Channels Television. This brought about healthy competition among the private TV operators in Nigeria and culminated into better service delivery and better programs.
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Mass communication is a very interesting course to study in tatiary institution.
Mass communication is a mirrow through which we for cast the future through the past event,,
Mass media are those gadget for information dissemination
This site is OK but it has a problem which is very sad, you can’t even copy and paste you guys should consider students that are making research on project works or assignment please you guys should work on that
pls I would love to know how corruption came into Nigeria mass media
This Article simply tells a detailed history of the mass media. And it concurs with the explains given by my lecture in History of Nigerian mass media
Akaaha chinelo Maryjane
Mass communication 200level student of Caleb university Imota, Ikorodu
THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA MASS MEDIA IS QUITE INTERESTING ….FROM BRITISH RADIO STATIONS TO CREATING A REGIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS….NOWADAYS WE HAVE PRIVATE BROADCAST ORGANIZATIONS WHICH IS BEEN REGULATED BY GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION (NBC). THE PRINT MEDIA IS KNOWN TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST FORM OF MEDIA IN NIGERIA WHICH STATED FROM IWE IROHIN HEADED BY REV HENRY TOWNSEND IN 1869.
Mass communication is a very great in Nigerta, because it is used to know about what was going on in the community,areas,country and even all over the world
Mass communication can also defined as the transmission of idea,culture,value,messages,information to the large heterogeneous audience simulteneously or instantaneously
Please I want to know about the development of mass communication in Nigeria. Thanks!
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Mass communication is a very great in Nigerta, because it is used to know about what was going on in the community,areas,country and even all over the world
Mass communication can also defined as the transmission of idea,culture,value,messages,information to the large heterogeneous audience simulteneously or instantaneously
pls I want to know the different deregulation attempt that took place in Nigeria both the successful ones and the one dat are not, thanks for ur understanding and God bless u…