Yesterday, we learnt about the decision by NEXT Newspapers to stop their printing press.
Today, yet another newspaper has been launched to change the face of journalism in Nigeria.

THE Moment, the latest and wave making newspaper in Nigeria, was yesterday officially launched in Lagos, with a commitment by the publisher to change the face of journalism in the country.

The event, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, attracted captains of industry, media representatives, royal fathers and other well wishers.

Speaking on the vision of the newspaper, the publisher, Mr. Moffat Ekoriko, said the paper was inspired by a patriotic zeal for a better Nigeria in addition to the desire to introduce a new trend into the country’s journalism.

He said The Moment would look at issues critically and reveal the truth always, adding that it would also make people to contribute to the development of the society.

He said his aim was to take the paper to number three position in the industry by the year 2013, explaining that the staff of the organisation had undergone rigorous training and are motivated to build a global newspaper.

‘We are floating a paper that will look at things critically and reveal the truth. The media must be the eyes of the society. We are publishing a paper that will make people contribute to the development of the society. We want a paper that will proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems,’ he said.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Ufot Udeme, called for support for the new publication, noting that the challenge of sustaining a newspaper publication in Nigeria was very tasking.

He observed that the road to newspaper publication in the country is littered with ‘corpses.’ He therefore, urged the team behind the paper not to relent on its effort, as the business terrain is highly competitive and unfavourable.

Also giving a goodwill message, the Managing Director of Solutions Communications Limited, Mr. Gabriel Agbor, saluted the courage of the publisher, noting that at times like this it is difficult to take up newspaper publication because of the challenges involved.

While urging the publisher to remain firm on his vision, Agbor noted that circumstances that might be beyond his control could set in, but with hard work and a stroke of luck, he would succeed.

http://www.momentng.com/en/news/4199/the-moment-launched-in-lagos.html

Do they stand a chance?  I actually bought a copy of the newspaper on the stands today.  It's ok,
but as a business, I don't know that they stand a chance.  What will they do that NEXT didn't do?

Seun:

Yesterday, we learnt about the decision by NEXT Newspapers to stop their printing press.
Today, yet another newspaper has been launched to change the face of journalism in Nigeria.
http://www.momentng.com/en/news/4199/the-moment-launched-in-lagos.html

Do they stand a chance?  I actually bought a copy of the newspaper on the stands today.  It's ok,
but as a business, I don't know that they stand a chance.  What will they do that NEXT didn't do?

as long s they ignore the rot in govt, they should be fine

How will ignoring the rot in government convince people to buy The Moment instead of, say, Vanguard?
I feel current papers do a decent job of tackling corruption. They are a bit tactful, but that's about it.

Truth is with increasing internet-orientation among Nigerians, online blogs and portals have done great blow to print editions of newspapers. From my phone I can browse as many newspaper sites as possible.
It has greatly affected their sale. Many people don't see need to buy hard copies of papers again. News hit the internet the next minute event occurred, rendering it already stale when the papers carried it the next day. No breaking news in newspapers again. I, for one, only buy newspapers because of some columnists I can't afford not to read daily and maybe when I have an article published and I want to keep for future reference. After spending 30 minutes on NL in the night and another 30 minutes in the morning, I hardly find anything new in newspapers again the next day.

One of the factors that killed NEXT's print edition is the almost real-time update of their site, 234NEXT.com, rendering buying hard copies needless.

Only papers owned by moneybags like Tinubu's The Nation, Kalu's Sun, and Nduka's Thisday, Ibru's Guardian may survive. Those owned by professional journalists like NEXT will find the terrian difficult.

no paper pushed the boundaries like next did

no other paper had the courage to publish shockers like yardua brain dead in saudi arabia, the antics of our petroleum minister, or gowon and his nigerian kids aint the same as american kids

vanguard for me is becoming a conspiracy theorist rag - what with all the bizarre northern agenda bs they were publishing during hurricane sanusi.

whe you take on the establishment, you lose out on advertising revenue - which is what killed next, imho

im coming back 2 comment

So this is what the newspaper means when it says it will "change the face of journalism"? Looks like business as usual to me. Another government shill created to prop up a kleptocracy.

http://www.momentng.com/en/news/4130/we-will-partner-with-the-moment-says-imoke.html

THE Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on media has said that the Cross River State government was willing to partner with the management of The Moment Newspapers in its development drive to make life more meaningful for its citizenry.

Mr. Omini Oden said this yesterday when Mr. Nkereuwem Udom, Senior Advert Officer of The Moment Newspaper paid him a courtesy call in his office as part of measures towards a cordial working relationship with the management.

His words: ‘The stories I see in The Moment Newspapers’ are quality stories and worthy of commendation towards enhancing societal values’

Oden said the administration is open to constructive criticisms that will impact directly on the ordinary people because according to him, the administration emphasises on taking governance to those that needed it most.

According to the chief press secretary, under the last four years of the Imoke Administration, the government has come up with a seven-point development agenda and a robust economic blue print, all targeted at providing some basic comfort to the people, who he said willingly entrusted him with their secrete mandate.

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no paper pushed the boundaries like next did

no other paper had the courage to publish shockers like yardua brain dead in saudi arabia, the antics of our petroleum minister, or gowon and his nigerian kids aint the same as american kids

vanguard for me is becoming a conspiracy theorist rag - what with all the bizarre northern agenda bs they were publishing during hurricane sanusi.

whe you take on the establishment, you lose out on advertising revenue - which is what killed next, imho

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Here we go again with Nigerian and their conspiracy theories, I bet people like you believe that anything negative that happens to you is caused by witches and wizards.

Yes, government patronage can help but mostly the advertisers go where their adverts will be seen by most people.

If you want to buy a computer - you buy Guardian on Wednesday, if your looking for a job you check Guardian on Tuesday. not Vanguard or Punch or Next, nothing to do with government, everything to do with market perceptions. If I want to advertise for staff I am likely to advertise in the the Guardian on Tuesday not Next or Moment.

This new paper will find the going very difficult because fewer people are buying printed newspapers. Only 2 people in this thread have even admitted to buying the paper.

It is very easy to come out bragging.

I go with you, Semid, it's a DOA. Despite Jimoh Ibrahim's money and bravado, his National Mirror is even struggling to cut it in the market.

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The last time I flew air nigeria to cotonou we were all given free copies of jimoh ibrahims newspaper!

I think the people behind this publication are taking a big risk. It will take a great deal of effort for them to break even.

lets just pray they succeed, it may seem a rough road but surely if they dot their i's and cross their t's well there wont be cause 4 failure.

lets just pray they succeed, it may seem a rough road but surely if they dot their i's and cross their t's well there wont be cause 4 failure.

The newspaper business is a failing model. I for one don't buy newspapers, I use the web only.
You can do things with online versions that you can't do with print; you can search pages for a word, search for content on a website. There are even a couple of bonuses sprinkled here and there, eg you can leaf through the Vanguard print edition (and other mags) on the Vanguard website, zoom in and zoom out, things I can't do with a normal print edition.

Are the vendor supposed to pay for the left over or would it be returned to the publisher?

I think the Newspapers should start charging for online access to some news sections. Have some sections free but some accessible only on subscription. This they have to do to survive. If people dont want to subscribe, they can opt to buy the print version. That way, business continues to run. The online ads revenue can not be compared to what is obtainable with online publications abroad like the CNNs and Skys of this world.

Wish them success.