Not a few media practitioners have in the  last few years concluded that the  growing trend of internet system is becoming a threat to the Nigerian print journalism and may eventually overtake the older media systems.
They contented that infrastructural challenges are however delaying the rapid expansion of internet accessibility, especially in the developing nations.
According to the editor-in-chief, BusinessDay newspapers, Jemie Onwuchekwa, he agrees that the internet would definitely make more inroads in the developed countries, but doubted its major effect on the media system in Nigeria. While attributing this to limited number of people who have access to computers in Nigeria Jamie insisted that.Â
“Most Nigerians, because of infrastructure problems, stilldo not have access to computers and where internet centres have been made available many people in Nigeria are not computer literate, making the growth of internet in Nigeria slow.â€
The Guardian Newspapers editorial board chairman, Reuben Abati believes the internet system would not crowd out the newspapers but warned that media houses need to do is to brace up by raising the bar. He pointed out that some media houses have already started charging for the news on the internetwhile others have designed their pages to look like internet page.Â
Also speaking on the same issue, the editor of Daily Independent newspapers, Ikechukwu Amaechi, noted that said following the belief of young people in the use of internet, for information, news and entertainment, it would definitely decrease the use of newspapers, magazines, radio or television, but would not make these other media totally extinct because of the vital information and elaboration on an issue or report that might not be available on the internet.Â
The internet, he however observed the only factor contributing to the diminishing attention to the Nigerian print and electronic media. Others are the boring programmes, especially on the television stations that have compelled media consumers to seek alternative sources of entertainment.
“Most television programmes may not be interesting to the audience; therefore the audience is forced to find another means of entertainment. This is also true about other forms of media in Nigeria. Although the older forms of media in Nigeria would not be entirely wiped out, but would face major decrease in the consumer patriotism in the nearest future.â€Â
The media specialists therefore stated that some determined print media houses were currently adopting strategies such as going online to overcome the internet challenge.
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