Abstract
The newspaper sector worldwide is confronting a perfect storm of rising production costs,
declining advertising revenue, rapid digital disruption, and growing environmental scrutiny
(Boczkowski & Anderson, 2020). This study investigates how these pressures are perceived by
professionals in the Nigerian newspaper industry and evaluates the acceptability of alternative
business models. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered to a purposive sample
of 20 newspaper practitioners, with 14 usable responses (70 % response rate). The
questionnaire comprised 25 items measuring demographic characteristics, perceived
economic, technological, environmental, and cultural challenges (5-point Likert scales), and
attitudes toward subscription, membership, events, and digital-only models. Data were
analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s α, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson
correlations, independent-sample and paired-sample t-tests, and ordinary least squares
regression. Results reveal that respondents strongly agree that rising production costs
(M = 4.21, SD = 0.80) and paper-ink expenses (M = 4.36, SD = 0.74) constitute severe
economic challenges, which are positively correlated with perceived declines in journalism
quality (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), supporting H1. Editors perceive technological challenges
significantly higher than non-editors (mean difference = 0.52, p = 0.039), confirming H2.
Subscription-based models are overwhelmingly favoured (M = 4.14, SD = 0.66) compared
with pay-per-article (M = 2.86, SD = 0.77), a difference that is highly significant (p < 0.001)
and validates H3. Environmental concern is positively associated with support for digital-only
editions (r = 0.42, p < 0.05; OLS β = 0.38, p = 0.021), providing evidence for H4. Reliability
analysis yielded Cronbach’s α values above 0.79 for all multi-item constructs, and exploratory
factor analysis extracted three clean factors (economic, technological, environmental)
explaining 71 % of total variance.The findings suggest that Nigerian newspaper professionals recognise the severity of economic
and technological pressures, view subscription models as the most viable revenue stream, and
are motivated by sustainability considerations to adopt digital-only formats. The study extends
existing literature by integrating four challenge domains within a single analytical framework
and offering context-specific insights for Sub-Saharan Africa. Practical implications include
the need for targeted digital investment, the development of tiered subscription offerings, and
the strategic use of environmental messaging to drive digital adoption. Policy makers may
consider incentives for recycled newsprint and digital-only publications to alleviate cost
pressures. Future research should employ larger samples and longitudinal designs to track
attitude changes as new business models are implemented. In conclusion, this research
demonstrates that addressing the intertwined economic, technological, and environmental
challenges is essential for the survival of Nigeria’s newspaper industry. By aligning business
strategies with the expressed preferences for sustainable, subscription-driven models,
publishers can safeguard journalistic integrity while achieving financial viability. Continued
scholarly attention to these dynamics will be crucial as the industry evolves in the digital era.
Future empirical work should also explore the role of regulatory frameworks and cross-media
collaborations in shaping sustainable business models across Sub-Saharan Africa. Such
investigations will provide deeper insights into long-term industry resilience and inform
strategic policy decisions.