The Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, Sunday Isuwa, PhD, has authored a new book examining the digital transformation of Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Titled Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, the book explores how technology is changing newsroom operations, journalism practice, business models and audience engagement.
The book will be officially launched at 10am on October 29, 2026, at the Conference Hall of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters, behind the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
The publication examines how traditional newspapers are adapting to the rapid shift from print to digital platforms, including the growing use of multimedia reporting, audience analytics and emerging revenue models.
The President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), Prof. Rotimi Olatunji of Lagos State University, wrote the foreword, while the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, is scheduled to review the book.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC) will chair the event.
Professor Umaru Pate of the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, described the publication as a timely assessment of the changes reshaping Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Pate said the book addresses newsroom adaptation, multimedia journalism, audience analytics, innovative revenue strategies, misinformation and changing audience behaviour.
“This book delves into newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, innovative revenue strategies, and the challenges presented by misinformation and shifting audience habits,” Pate said.
He noted that the book combines contemporary evidence with practical examples to examine both the opportunities and challenges created by digital transformation.
Pate described it as essential reading for journalists, media scholars, policymakers and students seeking to understand the changing landscape of journalism in Nigeria.
Professor Farooq Kperogi of Kennesaw State University, United States, also praised the publication for examining how Nigerian newspapers are responding to the demands of the digital era.
Kperogi said Isuwa draws on empirical research and professional experience to examine changes in editorial routines, business models and audience strategies as legacy newsrooms transition to digital platforms.
He said the book connects Nigeria’s media transformation with global developments while examining the country’s political environment, infrastructure and media culture.
According to Kperogi, the publication fills an important gap in African media scholarship by examining how technological change is reshaping the ethical, economic and professional foundations of journalism.
“It is essential reading for journalists, media managers, policymakers and students who want a concise but substantive guide to the forces that are transforming Nigerian news ecology,” he said.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, described the book as a comprehensive account of the transformation of the Nigerian press.
Ali said the publication traces the development of Nigerian newspapers from their colonial origins to the changes brought by the digital revolution.
He said the book examines how newsrooms have adapted to technological advancement, restructured their business models and diversified revenue sources as more audiences consume news through mobile devices.
“It considers the ethical and professional challenges faced by journalists today, highlighting the delicate balance between immediacy and accuracy, as well as the complexities of freedom of expression under regulatory pressures,” Ali said.
He added that the book places Nigeria’s media transformation within a global context through comparative analysis and case studies highlighting the resilience and innovation of selected newspapers.
Ali said the publication also looks at the future of newspaper publishing in Nigeria and offers recommendations for editors, journalists, policymakers and other stakeholders.
He described the book as a useful resource for media professionals, academics and others interested in the evolution of journalism and the search for a sustainable and ethically grounded future for the industry.
He urged media professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to attend the launch, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate the publication and discuss the future of journalism in Nigeria.
The event is expected to attract leading figures from the media and academic communities, with Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma of NOUN scheduled to review the book.