Catalytic Issues in Religion Journalism in Nigeria: The Past and the Present

Abstract

The time line chosen for this study to assess and analyse issues in religion journalism as portrayed in Nigeria print media is the period 1859 to the present. The study begins from the birth year of Rev. Townsend's "Iwe Irohin" the newspaper that pioneered Christian missionary journalism and journalism of general interest in the country. Historical method and archival/documentary research methods were used for gathering data from primary and secondary sources; the study findings reveal that early Christian missionaries depended on printed matters and newspaper to spread evangelical messages, and to achieve total conversion of the people to Christian faith. It was also found that their generational successors in Christian evangelism work copied the early missionaries print media communication models to sustain and improve religion journalism by establishing newspapers, magazines and newsletters. It concludes that Christian missions in Nigeria should invest in quality newspaper and magazines by hiring trained journalists to handle their newspapers for revenue generation from advertisements and to establish newspaper selling posts within and outside their Church locations.