- Nigerian Observer
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Nigerian Observer 
Type Daily newspaper Publisher Bendel Newspapers Company Limited Headquarters Benin City, Nigeria Official website http://nigerianobservernews.com The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It has been published since May 29, 1968.[1] The publisher, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, is owned by the Edo State Government.[2]
In 1973, a correspondent for the Nigerian Observer wrote an article about an impending teacher's strike in Rivers State, which was published on the Governor Alfred Diete-Spiff's birthday. Taking this as a deliberate insult, Diete-Spiff's aide Ralph Iwowari had the reporter's head publicly shaved and had him beaten with 24 lashes of a cane.[3] At that time the Nigerian Observer was owned by Bendel State, the predecessor of Edo State. The Rivers State newspaper the Nigerian Tide did not mention the conflict with the teachers.[4]
During the administration of President Shehu Shagari (1979-1983) the newspaper was subject to harassment by the police, with staff being detained and the premises shut, as were other papers belonging to state governments controlled by opposition parties.[5] Early in 1989 worsening economic conditions forced the paper to close for some time.[6] On 22 July 1993 the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida banned the Nigerian Observer, as well as the National Concord, The Punch and the Daily Sketch.[7]
An analysis of the Nigerian Observer and other Nigerian papers published in 1999 noted that it had a relatively small circulation, with only 15% of column inches taken up by advertisements, compared to 50% in a typical North American paper. Many of the ads were government bulletins, Low revenue coupled with shortage of newsprint had the effect of limiting coverage of events, and in particular of limiting investigative reporting.[8]
References
- ^ Nigerian Observer 'Contact Us', Nigerian Observer website. Retrieved on 19 August 2008.
- ^ "Countries: Nigeria: News". Stanford University. http://library.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/nigeria/nigerianews.html. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
- ^ Ndaeyo Uko (2004). Romancing the gun: the press as promoter of military rule. Africa World Press. p. 80. ISBN 1592211895. http://books.google.ca/books?id=Abm-v6wGWOQC&pg=PA80.
- ^ Luke Uka Uche (1989). Mass media, people, and politics in Nigeria. Concept Publishing Company. p. 144. ISBN 817022232X. http://books.google.ca/books?id=bX7aJ8faPvoC&pg=PA144.
- ^ Eghosa E. Osaghae (1998). Crippled giant: Nigeria since independence. Indiana University Press. p. 133. ISBN 0253211972. http://books.google.ca/books?id=5o4k98EUAJEC&pg=PA133.
- ^ Gunilla L. Faringer (1991). Press freedom in Africa. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 32. ISBN 0275937712. http://books.google.ca/books?id=CZAAm-o47rQC&pg=PA32.
- ^ International Afro mass media: a reference guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1996. p. 30. ISBN 0313284008. http://books.google.ca/books?id=uLenDhrLQ8oC&pg=PA30.
- ^ Judith Marcus (1999). Surviving the twentieth century: social philosophy from the Frankfurt School to the Columbia faculty seminars. Transaction Publishers. p. 189. ISBN 1560003529. http://books.google.ca/books?id=vB2Qf34T7JoC&pg=PA189.
Business Day • Business Hallmark • Compass • Daily Champion • Daily Times • Daily Trust • Guardian • Independent • Leadership • The Nation • National Mirror • Newswatch • Next • Nigerian Observer • Nigerian Tribune • Osun Defender • P.M. News • Peoples Daily • Port Harcourt Telegraph • The Punch • Sun • Tell Magazine • Thisday • Triumph • VanguardCategories:- Newspapers published in Nigeria
- Benin City
- Publications established in 1968
- African newspaper stubs
- Nigeria stubs
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