Press and politics in Nigeria, 1880-1937.
Date
1978
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Great Britain: Longman Group Limited.
Abstract
The origins of the newspaper press, Newspapers and newspapermen; The evolution and organization of the Newspaper industry; Beginnings of the press offensive, 1880-1900; A new ferocity and unanimity of opposition, 1900-1913; Liberty versus authority, 1880-1918; A new dawn and dissent, 1914-1937.
Description
Looking back in 1964 over journalism in Nigeria since its inception more than a century ago, former President Nnamdi rAzikiwe, himself one of the greatest Nigerian journalists, drew attention to the work of ‘pioneers ofthe Nigerian Press’ the history of whose activities is ‘identical with the intellectual and material developments of this country'.. The ‘galaxy of immortal journalists produced by Nigeria’, Azikiwe believed, had played their part ‘in
this corner of the earth in the great crusade for human freedom’. This glowing tribute emphasises the fact, widely acknowledged by writers on Nigeria, that the newspaper press has been a significant force in national development. J. S. Coleman in Nigeria: Background to Nationalism asserts that ‘there can be little doubt that nationalist newspapers and pamphlets have been among the main
influences in the awakening of racial and political consciousness’. Kalu Ezera in Constitutional Developments in Nigeria, speaks about the influence of the press on constitutional reform during the inter- and post-war years.