 | |
| Type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Dele Olojede |
| Publisher | Timbuktu Media Group |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Ceased publication | 2011 |
| 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.
NEXT was published by Timbuktu Media Group, based in Lagos and South Africa. Other Timbuktu Media Group publications included NEXT on Sunday, Elan (a fashion magazine), and X2. 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."
Olojede aimed to transform Nigerian journalism by prioritizing ethical reporting and investigative journalism at NEXT. Launched as a "tweet" in December 2008, its print edition followed in January 2009. Olojede envisioned NEXT as a platform for transparency and accountability, tackling corruption and promoting democracy. The paper quickly gained a reputation for its bold investigative pieces, including its 2010 exposé on President Umaru Yar’adua’s incapacitation, which declared "Yar’adua Is Brain Dead." While the story sparked national debate and calls for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to take office, it also drew accusations of sensationalism.
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.
NEXT reported extensively on issues like political and legislative corruption, exposing the astounding salaries of Nigerian lawmakers and scandals like the Halliburton bribe case. Despite its acclaim and awards, the paper faced intense resistance, including advertiser boycotts and distribution challenges, which strained its finances. These difficulties led to the cessation of its print edition in September 2011 and the eventual shutdown of its digital platform later that year. Olojede attributed the closure to operational missteps and the high cost of maintaining ethical journalism in Nigeria’s challenging media environment.
In 2011, Dele Olojede received the John P. McNulty Prize in recognition of his efforts to establish NEXT. The Prize is awarded in partnership with the Aspen Institute.
See also
- Brown envelope journalism
- Corruption in Nigeria
- Elite advertisement in Nigeria
- Media of Nigeria
- Newspapers published in Nigeria
References
- ^ "Dele Olojede of Newsday, Long Island, NY". The Pulitzer Prizes. 2005. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Investor Relations". Timbuktu Media Group. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (2024-02-05). "How one Nigerian newspaper took on outrage fatigue". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- "Nigeria's 'brown envelope' journalism". BBC News. 2015-03-05. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- "NEXT newspaper suspends Sunday publication – Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ "A Nigerian newspaper that dared to expose the truth and corruption of its powerful elite". McNulty Foundation. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
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