Uses and Gratification: Nigerian Students Use of Newspaper

Use of Newspapers by Nigerian University Students Introduction Newspapers provide up-to-date information on local, state/ provincial, national, and world issues. They are among the most widely-read periodicals that are available and accessible to the vast majority of people of all ages and walks of life in any community. Every category of reader can find some important, current, and interesting information in newspapers. Today 's newspapers use design elements that make information easily accessible to the reader. For example, important stories have large bold headlines, while graphics appear next to related stories. The most current analysis and criticism of politics, economics, health, religion, sports, psychological and emotional issues, music, theatre, television, the fine arts, and even comics are covered by newspapers. Ola and Ojo (2007) reiterate that, “newspapers are important because they carry current information and they keep the readers informed of events and happenings within and outside their immediate environments. They are useful for education, recreation, entertainment and relaxation.” News is written as a way of disseminating information to a large group of people. Reporters and editors are usually conscious of the language they use in news reportage to attract popular readership. In positioning newspapers within the news environment and establishing their academic and research viability, Cheney, Knapp, Alan, and Czapla (2006) insist that despite the growing presence of news on the Internet, radio, television, etc., a library 's current newspaper collection can continue to play a vital role in the academic community. In fact, they advocate that, in order to improve newspaper readership among college-age students, libraries should provide free and unhindered access to newspapers to all library users. History The history of the Nigerian press dates back to 1859, when Rev. Henry Tennsend released Iwe Iroyin fun Awon Ara Egba ati Yoruba ( The

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