TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       i

Approval Page-         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       ii

Declaration   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       iii

Dedication     -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       iv

Acknowledgements -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       v         

Table of Content      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       vi

Abstract         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -                       viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           1

1.2       Statement of Problem             -           -           -           -           -           -           -           5

1.3       Objectives of the Study          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           6

1.4       Research Questions                 -           -           -           -           -           -           -           6

1.5       Significance of the Study       -          -           -           -           -           -           -           7

1.6       Scope of the Study                 -           -           -           -           -           -           -           8

1.7       Limitation of the Study          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           8

1.8       Operational Definition of Terms         -           -           -           -           -           -           8

            References      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Introduction    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           11

2.1       Historical Overview of Online Newspaper     -           -           -           -           -           11

2.2       Classification of Online Newspapers  -           -           -           -           -           -           13

2.3       Newspaper Audience Readership       -           -           -           -           -           -           14

2.3.1    Factors Affecting the Readership Audience of Online Newspapers -           -           17

2.4       Overview of Newspapers Readership on the Internet            -           -           -           -           19

2.5       Functions/Uses of Newspaper            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           20

2.6       Theoretical Framework           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           22

References      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           27

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0       Introduction    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           29

3.1       Research Design         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           29

3.2       Population of Study    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           30       

3.3       Sample Size                 -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           30

3.4       Sampling Procedure    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           31

3.5       Method of Data Collection     -           -           -           -           -           -           -           32

3.5.1    Instrument of Data Collection            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           32

3.6       Method for Data Analysis/interpretation        -           -           -           -           -           33

References      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           34

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1        Introduction    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           35

4.2        Presentation and Interpretation of Data         -           -           -           -           -           35

4.3        Data Analysis and Discussion -          -           -           -           -           -           -           36

4.4        Answering of Research Questions      -           -           -           -           -           -           42

4.5        Summary of Findings             -           -           -           -           -           -           -           43

References      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           45

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 5.1      Introduction    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           46

5.2       Summary of the Study            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           46

5.3       Conclusion      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           46

5.4       Recommendations      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           47

Bibliography   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           48

Appendix       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           51

Abstract

The study focuses on the recent development where readership of the online newspapers on the internet has continued to witnessed significant growth despite the continuous decline of readership of the traditional printed newspapers. This study therefore seeks to examine the uses of online newspapers among Kaduna Polytechnic Lecturers.  It is also aimed at ascertaining the degree of satisfaction derived by the lecturers in the use of the newspapers for teaching and research. In doing this, the study would be beneficial to newspaper proprietors and editors in strategizing how to reposition online newspapers to revive and sustain the growth of readership and circulation of online newspapers among individuals and groups who are turning to the internet for their daily information and communication needs. The survey research method was adopted for the study, using the purposive sampling procedure to draw a sample of 100 respondents through an 11-item questionnaire as the instrument for collecting data. Findings of the study indicated a good number of the lecturers read online newspapers for their information needs. The findings further revealed that the lecturers are not satisfied with reading the online newspapers as a result of the inadequate supply of electricity which is required to power electronic devices that would give them access to read online newspapers. The study concludes that since online newspapers are effective mediums of modern communication for information, it should be made more accessible and available to readers since as online newspapers support effective communication and feedback. To achieve this, the researcher recommends that enabling environment should be provided which would support the uses of online newspapers for effective communication and feedback. The enabling environment upon which the uses of online newspapers thrive include provision of adequate supply of electricity, centralised internet servers and other modern communication facilities and technologies that would guarantee easy access and uses of the online newspapers for communication and information among individuals and groups, which would enable it fully meet their satisfaction. 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Online newspapers are serial, machine-readable news-oriented publications that are accessible via the Internet (Hasting Tribune Online, 2002). These publications are replicas of local and national daily press, containing news and current events of various genres (Ihlstrom & Akesson, 2004). Online newspapers are equally referred to as digital newspaper, electronic newspapers, e-news, e-newspapers, among others (Hasting Tribune Online, 2002; Santonen, 2004). Literature shows that early analysis of online journalism predicted a change in practice and form of news (Barnhurst, 2002). However, it has been found that the web version of newspapers only replicates the print edition as at present (Dimitrova, 2003; Chyi & Lewis, 2009; Lundberg, 2001). But this is not to say that online newspapers and their printed versions are not without peculiar features.

Abdulraheem, Adisa and Abdulkadir, (2012) citing a study carried out by the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) across the country in 2010 on newspaper readership argued that there are less than 300,000 sales of newspaper copies which if translated means that only one in every 470 Nigerians buys newspapers daily in recent time. Other studies as revealed by Abdulraheem, Adisa and Abdulkadir, (2012) showed that all the newspapers in Nigeria when put together have a combined circulation figure that is less than 500,000 copies per day. This is an amount of figure which equal the circulation of Daily Times of Nigeria in 1980s, at a time the population of Nigeria was about half of what it is today. These revelations suggest the low rate of readership of traditional newspapers in recent times. The invention of the internet has tremendously transformed the way communication is carried out globally. News and information which made up the primary contents of printed newspapers are now available on computers with internet facilities. This development account for the reason why printed newspapers’ managements are beginning to involve in the circulations of printed newspaper contents on the internet. Since readers and potential readers of the traditional media of newspapers are spending more time with the internet or new media for their communication needs, efforts are now being made by the management of the printed newspapers to utilise the internet in circulating their printed contents. In Nigeria some, if not all traditional printed newspapers have embraced the use of the internet to circulate newspaper contents to readers online.  According to

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