 | |
| Type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Founder(s) | Dele Olojede |
| Publisher | Timbuktu Media Group |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Ceased publication | 2011 |
| Headquarters | 235 Igbosere Road, Lapal Plaza, 2nd Floor Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Sister newspapers | Elan, X2 |
| Website | 234next |
NEXT was a newspaper in Nigeria, founded in 2009 by Dele Olojede, the first Nigerian winner of the Pulitzer Prize for International Journalism. [1]
NEXT was published by Timbuktu Media Group, based in Lagos and South Africa. [2] Other Timbuktu Media Group publications included NEXT on Sunday, Elan (a fashion magazine), and X2. [2] Olojede worked for Newsday where he won a Pulitzer Prize: "For his fresh, haunting look at Rwanda a decade after rape and genocidal slaughter had ravaged the Tutsi tribe." [1]
Olojede aimed to transform Nigerian journalism by prioritizing ethical reporting and investigative journalism at NEXT. [3] Launched as a "tweet" in December 2008, its print edition followed in January 2009. [3] Olojede envisioned NEXT as a platform for transparency and accountability, tackling corruption and promoting democracy. [3] The paper quickly gained a reputation for its bold investigative pieces, most notably its 2010 exposé on the incapacitation of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s, titled "Yar’Adua is brain-damaged." [4]
Unlike many local outlets where journalists often accept 'brown envelopes' for favorable coverage—an unethical practice so entrenched that many reporters are unaware of its impropriety—NEXT steadfastly refused to participate in such corruption, further setting it apart amongst Nigerian newspapers. [3]
NEXT reported extensively on issues like political and legislative corruption, exposing the astounding salaries of Nigerian lawmakers and scandals like the Halliburton bribe case. [3] [5] As noted by Onyenankeya and Salawu, investigative journalism in Nigeria often struggles against systemic challenges, including ownership interference, inadequate funding, and societal resistance to accountability. [6] NEXT was an outlier in this regard, maintaining a rare commitment to in-depth investigations despite the significant risks and costs associated with such efforts. [6] [7]
The most significant and controversial investigative piece was its 2010 exposé on the deteriorating health of Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua. The article revealed that the president was severely incapacitated, unable to recognize even his wife, and incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office. [8] The article detailed how this information was deliberately concealed from the public through an elaborate scheme orchestrated by First Lady Turai Yar’Adua and a close-knit circle of aides. [8]
The investigation uncovered how key government officials and aides, including the president’s chief security officer and his economic adviser, went to great lengths to maintain the illusion of a functioning presidency, even forging documents and falsely claiming interactions with the ailing leader. [8] The piece highlighted the extent of the power vacuum in the Nigerian government, exacerbated by secrecy and disarray, and the lengths to which the First Lady Turai Yar’Adua went to position a favorable successor for the vice presidency. [8]
The article sparked nationwide outrage and intensified calls for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume the presidency as mandated by the Nigerian constitution. [3] While celebrated for its boldness and meticulous reporting, the exposé also faced criticism, with some accusing NEXT of sensationalism. [3] Nevertheless, the investigation is remembered as a landmark moment in Nigerian journalism, reflecting NEXT's commitment to holding power accountable and its uncompromising approach to investigative reporting. [3]
Despite its acclaim and awards, the paper faced intense resistance, including advertiser boycotts and distribution challenges, which strained its finances. [9] These difficulties led to the cessation of its print edition in September 2011 and the eventual shutdown of its digital platform later that year. [3] [10] Olojede attributed the closure to operational missteps and the high cost of maintaining ethical journalism in Nigeria’s challenging newspaper industry. [3]
NEXT's experience highlights broader challenges within the Nigerian media environment, where investigative journalism remains precarious. [6] As documented by Onyenankeya and Salawu, journalists often face threats, harassment, and poor remuneration, discouraging many from pursuing investigative work. [6] NEXT's closure underscores the difficulty of sustaining independent journalism in an environment dominated by political and economic patronage. [6] [7]
In 2011, Dele Olojede received the John P. McNulty Prize in recognition of his efforts to establish NEXT. [5] The Prize is awarded in partnership with the Aspen Institute. [5]
This Pulitzer Prize has been awarded since 1942 for a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence. In its first six years (1942–1947), it was called the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting - International.
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, such as serious crimes, racial injustice, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Practitioners sometimes use the terms "watchdog reporting" or "accountability reporting".
The Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting has been awarded since 1953, under one name or another, for a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series in a U.S. news publication. It is administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is one of the fourteen American Pulitzer Prizes annually awarded for journalism. It recognizes a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalistic resources, which may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics, video and other online material, and may be presented in print or online or both.
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua ; 16 August 1951 – 5 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2007 until his death in May 2010. He won the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007.
The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) is a nonprofit news organization based in San Francisco, California.
The Fourth Republic is the current republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999, it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. Nigeria adopted the constitution of the Fourth Republic on 29 May 1999.
Dele Olojede is a Nigerian journalist and former foreign editor for Newsday. He is the first African-born winner of the Pulitzer Prize in International Journalism for his work covering the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. He serves on the board of EARTH University, in Costa Rica, and of The Markup, the New York-based investigative journalism organization focused on the impact of large tech platforms and their potential for human manipulation. He is the founder and host of Africa In the World, a hearts and minds festival held annually in Stellenbosch, in the Cape winelands of South Africa. He was a patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature.
Turai Umar Musa Yar'Adua is the widow of the former Nigerian president and former Katsina State Governor, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. She was the First Lady of Nigeria from 2007 until the death of her husband on 5 May 2010.
Scott Higham is an American journalist and author who documented the corporate and political forces that fueled the opioid epidemic, in addition to conducting other major investigations. He is a five-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and won the Pulitzer twice with his colleagues at The Washington Post. After a 24-year career with The Post, he began producing investigative projects for Bill Whitaker at 60 Minutes. He is also coauthor of two books.
The Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) is a Nigerian quasi-political and socio-cultural association which seeks to promote the political interest of people of northern Nigeria. The term "arewa" means "northern" in Hausa, the primary language of the region. The forum is a successor to the Northern People's Congress, which collapsed after the coup of 1966.The forum is committed to democratic processes within the federal constitution.
Newspapers published in Nigeria have a strong tradition of the principle of "publish and be damned" that dates back to the colonial era when founding fathers of the Nigerian press such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli, Obafemi Awolowo and Lateef Jakande used their papers to fight for independence. This tradition firmly established newspapers as a means to advocate for political reform and accountability, roles they continue to fulfill in Nigeria today.
The Peoples Daily is a newspaper in Nigeria. It was launched as a weekly in November 2008, and it became a daily in November 2009.
Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani is a Nigerian novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist. Her debut novel, I Do Not Come To You By Chance, won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Africa), a Betty Trask First Book award, and was named by The Washington Post as one of the Best Books of 2009. Her debut Young Adult novel, Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, based on interviews with girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, was published by HarperCollins in September 2018. It won the 2018 Raven Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment, was named as one of the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, and is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2019 selection.
Premium Times is a Nigerian online newspaper based in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The newspaper was launched in 2011. The online medium is notable for investigative journalism and reports, among other fields.
In media ethics, brown envelope journalism (BEJ) is a term used to describe the practice of journalists accepting monetary or other incentives in exchange for favorable news coverage or the suppression of negative information. The phenomenon undermines journalistic integrity and the independence of the media, leading to biased reporting influenced by external interests. The practice is not limited to one country, rather it is observed in other African countries, namely Tanzania, Nigeria, and in Ghana where it is called soli and in Cameroon where it is known as gombo. The practice is also reported in Gulf countries such as Kuwait.
Ruona J. Meyer (1982), formerly called Ruona Agbroko and Ruona Agbroko-Meyer is a Nigerian investigative journalist. She was named Investigative Journalist of 2013 in Nigeria. Her work has been featured on the BBC, 234Next, Financial Times, Reuters, Daily Trust, This Day, and others. She is the first Nigerian journalist to be nominated for an International Emmy Award.
The 1991 Katsina State gubernatorial election occurred on 14 December 1991. NRC candidate Saidu Barda won the election, defeating SDP Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
The 2003 Katsina State gubernatorial election occurred on 19 April 2003. PDP candidate Umaru Musa Yar'Adua won the election, defeating ANPP Nura Khalil and 5 other candidates.
Zainab Usman Saidu Dakingari is the daughter of the former president of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and wife to the former Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari.
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