WHEN (NOT) TO BE A PROPRIETOR: NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER OWNERSHIP IN A CHANGING POLITY

Abstract

The Nigerian press has seen different kinds of ownership ranging from missions, groups, and individuals to governments. Yet ownership of some newspapers remained obscure and a subject of speculation. Beyond the traditional functions, Nigerian newspapers have served purposes that diverged from their professed philosophy or ideologies. Despite travails particularly during the long military rule, and the seeming unprofitability of most ventures, newspapers have continued to proliferate. Ownership is central to the functionality, style, outlook, survival and perception of newspapers. These issues raise some fundamental questions as to why various parties venture into newspaper ownership, or desire to retain ownership when it is risky or economically unwise to do so. Using historical analysis approaches, the authors argue that the glamour and self-fulfilment in newspaper proprietorship as well as the parochial interest which some newspapers have served allure their owners and even encourage the addition of new titles even when other dynamics point to the contrary.