Online newspaper publishers and media stakeholders have raised concerns over what they described as an identity crisis confronting digital journalism in South-East Nigeria, warning that the persistent conflation of professional online journalism with blogging and content creation continues to undermine the industry’s credibility and growth.
The concerns were raised during a Zoom conference titled “Online Journalism: The Tough Road in South-East Nigeria,” organised by the UK-based Diaspora Online Media Practitioners (DIOMP), a network of digital publishers and media entrepreneurs from the region and abroad.
Participants at the conference argued that while online journalism has emerged as a dominant force in news dissemination, practitioners continue to battle poor funding, inadequate advertising support, public misconceptions and the rising cost of sustaining digital news platforms.
Speaking during the conference, Innocent Onyeukwu, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of INNONEWS and Special Adviser on Digital Media to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, said online journalism in the South-East had survived years of skepticism and resistance to become an indispensable source of information for millions of readers at home and in the diaspora.
“When we started INNONEWS, many people doubted the future of online journalism in the South-East. There was little understanding of the industry and even less support,” Mr Onyeukwu said. “Today, the landscape has changed significantly. Readers now consume news in real time, and digital platforms have become the first point of contact for information.”
The seasoned journalist said his experience in traditional newspaper journalism prepared him for the challenges of digital publishing, noting that credibility remained the most valuable asset in the online news business.
“I came from the mainstream media. I understood newsroom culture, editorial processes and the importance of verification. That foundation helped us build trust. Without credibility, an online newspaper cannot survive,” he said.
Mr Onyeukwu maintained that despite numerous challenges confronting digital publishers, particularly in Imo State, online journalism had become firmly established within the media ecosystem.
“Online newspapers and online journalism have come to stay. The challenges are enormous, especially in Imo State, but the industry has continued to grow because some of us invested in credibility, professionalism and capacity building,” he said.
“Beyond building successful digital news platforms, some of us have gone further to nurture and mentor young journalists who have now embraced full-time online journalism as a profession. That is evidence that the industry is no longer an experiment; it is a viable and sustainable arm of modern journalism.”he said.
According to him, the growth of digital journalism in the South-East has helped bridge information gaps, expanded access to credible news and created opportunities for a new generation of reporters and editors operating outside the traditional newsroom structure.
Mr Onyeukwu, a former editor of The Red Parrot and Trumpeta newspapers, said the inspiration behind INNONEWS was to bridge a growing information gap in the region by providing accurate and timely reports at a time when unverified stories were dominating online conversations.
“There was a vacuum. People were hungry for credible information, particularly those in the diaspora seeking reliable updates from home. We saw an opportunity to provide factual journalism, and the audience responded positively,” he added.
Also speaking, Solomon Echefu, Publisher of The Global News Update, described online journalism as a difficult but rewarding profession, insisting that digital journalism had come to stay despite the obstacles confronting practitioners.
“Online journalism has come to stay. The terrain is not easy, but those who remain committed to professional standards will continue to make an impact,” Mr Echefu said.
According to him, one of the industry’s biggest challenges is the tendency to classify online journalists, bloggers and content creators under the same umbrella.
“Professional online journalism is different from blogging and content creation. The failure to recognize that distinction has created confusion among members of the public and has affected the perception of genuine digital news organisations,” he said.
Mr Echefu noted that many online publishers in the South-East drew inspiration from early digital media pioneers who remained steadfast when confidence in online publishing was low.
“Some of us were inspired by platforms like INNONEWS. At a time when people dismissed online journalism as a passing trend, some publishers remained consistent and proved that credible digital journalism could thrive in the region,” he said.
The publisher further argued that while the South-West had developed stronger structures and networks for digital journalism, practitioners in the South-East must intensify collaboration and professional organisation to strengthen the industry.
Participants at the conference identified inadequate advertising revenue, limited sponsorship opportunities, weak institutional support and increasing operational costs as major threats to the sustainability of online journalism in the region.
