1. Volume 1, Issue 1, pp. 4-9; October 2012
Online Journal of African Affairs
©2012 Online Research Journals
Full Length Research Article
Available Online at http://www.onlineresearchjournals.org/OJAA
Newspaper Readership in the Civil Service: Case
Study of Ekiti State Civil Servants.
Olofin Alabi Olusoji
B.A (Eng.) University of Ilorin and M.A (ESL) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Oyo State, Nigeria. E-mail:
olofin1@yahoo.com.
Downloaded 20 September, 2012.
Accepted 15 October, 2012.
This study aims to examine newspaper readership in the civil service, using the Ekiti State civil service
as a case study. A survey research method was used. Questionnaires designed purposely to provide
answers to the research questions were administered to 200 civil servants randomly selected in Ekiti
State. The result shows that newspapers are very much available in Ekiti State and that 186 (93%) of the
respondents read newspapers, where as 14 (7%) do not read newspapers. The result also shows the
frequency of their reading newspapers. 68 (34%) read newspapers regularly, 54 (27%) do occasionally,
22 (11%) read weekly, 53 (26.5%) read anytime they see, where as 3 (1.5%) do not read.
Keywords: Newspaper readership, civil service, public opinion, economic progress, government, Ekiti State.
INTRODUCTION
There is no doubt that newspapers are a major force in
forming public opinions on matters affecting national and
international efforts towards economic progress and
global understanding. Man requires information in order
to keep abreast of events in the world around him. News
papers which are printed on a daily or weekly basis are
an excellent source of information, education,
entertainment and mobilization of the public to foster
development both at national and international levels
[1,2]. Nigerian civil servants as the engine room of
government activities require newspaper information daily
in order to guide and provide quality advice to enable the
government take appropriate policy decisions. It is from
this perspective that this paper intends to examine
newspaper readership in the Nigerian civil service using
the Ekiti State civil service as a case study.
power and proper information is vital to clear thinking, it is
considered appropriate for the civil servants to take
advantage of this unique benefit provided by the
newspaper to advance their career prospect. It is from
this perspective that this paper seeks to ascertain the
extent of newspaper readership among the civil servants
in Nigeria, using Ekiti State as a case study.
Research Questions
1. Do civil servants read newspapers?
2. Do civil servants buy the preferred newspapers?
3. Why do civil servants read newspapers?
4. What contents of the newspaper do the civil servants
read?
Scope of the study
Statement of the Problem
The economic and social phenomenon of Nigerian
society not withstanding it is not possible for a reader or
an institution to purchase all the daily newspapers
available at the news-stand everyday. Even if there is the
financial capacity for this purpose, it still does not make
economic sense to go for all the newspapers. For this
reason therefore, there is the need for selective
purchasing. Relying on Daramola [3] that information is
This research could not be conducted on a large scale
due to various constraints such as insufficient finance,
time, and other complex logistics. This accounts for why
the study was limited to Ekiti state and in particular AdoEkiti, the capital of the state. The rational behind the
choice of Ekiti state finds explanation in the uniqueness
offered by the location of a conglomeration of several
ministries at the state secretariat, new Iyin road, AdoEkiti. This makes it possible to have easy access to a

2. Olusoji
large concentration of civil servants.
Theoretical Frame Work: Uses and Gratification
Theory
The frame work adopted for this study is Uses and
Gratification Theory. This theory is considered most
favorable because the major crux of the study focused on
how the individual uses information to advance his cause
and promote a good working environment. Dennis and
Defleur [4] and Anaeto et al. [5] citing Katz et al (1974)
agree that the Uses and Gratification Theory conceived
the audience as being active and also concerned itself
with how people use media for the gratification of their
needs. In addition, the study further benefits from the
model because it provides more insight into what civil
servants do with the mass media, the motive for using
and the positive and negative consequences of using
mass media
METHODOLOGY
This study is carried out mainly to determine newspaper
readership in the civil service. This is no doubt a fact
finding research that bothers on people’s attitude and
behavior. In view of the subject matter of this paper and
the various research questions designed for the work, the
approach considered as most appropriate for this study is
the survey method. This approach is in line with Osuola
[6]. The survey group comprised of 200 civil servants,
picked from 10 randomly selected from the 16 ministries
in the secretariat located along Lyin road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti
State. We are aware too, that questionnaires are good
ways of collecting sample and direct information
Gbolagunte and Popoola [7]. To facilitate detailed and
accurate information from the respondents therefore, a
total of 200 copies of the questionnaire were personally
administered. The questionnaire, which comprised of
both open and close-ended questions, was made simple
to facilitate proper understanding and accurate response
from the respondents.
Presentation and Analyses of Findings
Due to personal involvement and proper monitoring of the
administration of the Questionnaires to the respondents,
it was not only possible to receive maximum cooperation;
I was able to retrieve all the questionnaires as well. The
questions provided in the questionnaire were specifically
drawn to provide answers to the earlier research
questions. However, questions 1-4 were drawn to elicit
the bio-data of the respondents. Our analyses shall, for
this reason, be based only on those questions that
provided answers to the core segments of this study
based on the research questions. In view of this, the
responses provided for the Research Question 1: Do civil
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servants read newspapers? Were captured under
questions 5-9. Research Question 2: Why do civil
servants read newspapers? Was given attention under
question 10 through its 3 options. Research Question 3:
Do civil servants buy newspapers? Received attention
through the responses supplied under questions 11-14.
Finally, questions 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 were asked
to provide answers to the Research. Question 4: What
content of the newspaper do civil servants read?
Research Question
newspapers?
1:
Do
civil
servants
read
Questions 5-6 in the questionnaire were drawn to provide
answers to research question 1:
Question 5: Are newspapers available in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti
State? This question is to find out the availability of
newspapers to the civil servants. Interestingly, all the 200
respondents answered in favor of this question. This is an
indication that the civil servants recognize the information
value of newspapers.
Question 6: Do you read newspapers? This question is
quite important because it provides answer to the core
subject embedded in the topic of this paper. The question
definitely provides insight into the newspaper readership
of civil servants in Ekiti State. The available response to
the question indicates that an overwhelming majority
answered in favor of the question. Out of the 200
respondents, 186, corresponding to 93.0% read
newspapers. The result further revealed that only 14
respondents, representing just 7.0% do not read
newspapers. The result derived from question 2 indicates
a direct confirmation of the result provided for question 1.
If newspapers are available, it makes sense to assume
that they are available because the civil servants derive
valuable information from reading them.
Question 7: if yes how often do you read newspapers?
The nature of this question requires consideration for
various reactions and options embedded in it since the
question is trying to find out whether the civil servants
read newspapers daily, occasionally, weekly, anytime I
see, or not at all. From the respondents’ reactions, 68
respondents, representing 34.0% read newspapers often,
54, amounting to 27.0% read occasionally, 22,
representing 11.0%, read weekly, where as 53 (26.5%)
read anytime they see, while a tiny minority of 3
corresponding to only 1.5% do not read at all. The first
option under this question is considered to be quite
significant to this study, for this reason, If question 5
recorded an overwhelming 100% in favor of the
availability of newspapers and question 6 recorded as
high as 93.0% in support of civil servants that read
newspapers, the response of 68 translating to only 34.0%
that read newspapers often, appears not to bear a

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favorable correlation between questions 5 and 6 which
recorded a high percentage in favor of the two questions.
With these results, it is anticipated that the civil servants
should indicate interest in reading newspapers often. As
we can see from the results, this is not the case.
However, we cannot close our eyes on the other options
provided for the question since other civil servants who
read newspapers occasionally, weekly and anytime they
see which all together, make up a total of 129
respondents translating to 64.5% still fall within the ambit
of the research question. Since the question merely
sought to know about the newspaper readership in the
civil service in Ekiti State, we shall still be in order if we
consider the aggregate of all those options of the civil
servants who read daily, occasionally, weekly, and anytime
I see provided in question 7. The total respondents to
question 7 will therefore, be regarded as 197, corresponding
to 68.5%. This present result now provides correlation
between the previous 2 questions {5 and 6} and this
question 7.
Question 8: If no, why? This question also provides
options for the respondents. They are to choose among
the options: lack of time, lack of interest, and lack of
money. A total of 17 respondents indicate that they do
not read newspapers at all. Out of this, 9, accounting for
52.9% consider it a waste of time, 41.2% indicate lack of
interest as their reason, why only 1 representing 5.9% do
not read due to lack of money. One interesting findings
about those who do not read due to lack of money is that
they all belong to the category of junior workers who are
low income earners, low educational background and are
also saddled with running errands for the senior officers.
Research Question 2: Why do civil servants read
newspapers?
Questions 9 and 10 were advanced to elicit responses to
this research question:
Question 9: Indicate the type of newspapers that you
read. Response to this question varies according to the
available newspapers. In all, twelve newspapers were
identified, while all others that were not specifically
mentioned were classified as “others”. The Punch
newspaper received the highest number of respondents.
68, accounting for 34.0 % read The Punch. The Tribune
followed with 46 respondents accounting for 23.0%. 18,
representing 9.0% read The Nation. The Sun had 14
respondents which account for 7.0%. The Guardian had
13 representing 6.5%. Daily Trust and other categories
lumped together as “others” have 9 respondents each
amounting to 4.5% respectively. This Day with 6
respondents accounts for 3.0%. Both Daily Sport and Tell
Magazine each had 2 representing 1.0%. Only one
respondent representing 0.5% read Daily Independent.
The reason for the high frequency of readership in the
Punch, Nigeria Tribune and the Nation is understandable.
This can be attributable to the proximity of the production
of the papers. Since the people had earlier shown their
preference for news, education and entertainment, it is
natural that they would have interest more on the issues
around them than any other matters. It is a common
knowledge that newspapers reflect more on the news in
their immediate surroundings than others.
Question 10: Why do people read newspapers? This
question provides options based on individual interest for
reading newspapers. All together, 4 options were
identified and the respondents are to indicate which of
the options satisfies their reason for reading newspapers.
Specifically, three reasons were mentioned namely; to
satisfy desire for news, for information, education and
entertainment, and all other reasons grouped together as
“others”. Out of these, 54 representing 27.0% read to
satisfy the desire for news, 101, corresponding to 50.5%
read for information, education and entertainment, 38
respondents, which translate to 19.0% read for leisure.
Only 7 respondents, just 3.5% of the population read for
other reasons not stated here.
Research question 3: What content of the newspaper
do the civil servants read?
Answer to this research question is provided by questions
16, 17 and 18:
Question 16: what content do you prefer to read? The
respondents are provided with various newspaper
contents such as news, sports, education, business and
all the other contents grouped together as “others”. Here
the news top the list with 95 respondents corresponding
to 47.5%, next to this is education with 30 respondents
which accounts for 15.0%. Other categories regarded as
“others“, followed with 28 respondents accounting for
14.0% next to this is sports which had 24 respondents an
equivalent of 12.0%. The last under this category is the
business section which has 23 respondents, these
accounts for 11.5%. From here, it is clear that the civil
servants in Nigeria read more of news stories in the
newspapers than any other aspects.
Question 17: What segment do you prefer to read? Just
as we have under question 16, the respondents are to
choose from the various segments provided under this
question. Once more, the news tops the list. 70
respondents, corresponding to 35.0% prefer to read the
news segment. This result represents more than onethird, of the sample an indication that civil servants read
more of news than any other aspects of the paper. This is
followed by 35 respondents which make up 17.5% that
pay attention to politics, 30 respondents, corresponding
to 15.0%, read sports.25 respondents accounting for
12.5% prefer to read business. 24 respondents,
representing 12.0% read fashion. A total number of 16
respondents, making up 8.0% of the population read

4. Olusoji
other segments of the newspaper, not specified among
the options.
Question 18: Where do you prefer to read newspapers?
This question is to find out where the civil servants read.
The respondents are to choose from the three options
specified under the question. They also have the benefit
of opting for none of the stated options if that is
applicable in their case. A total number of 105
respondents which is an equivalent of 52.8% read
newspapers in the office. 16 of the respondents
corresponding to 8.0% read in the library. Those who
prefer to read at the news stand are 14 an equivalent to
7.0%. As many as 65 respondents corresponding to
32.2% of the population do not read in any of the stated
response categories.
As shown above, the percentage of the civil servants
who read in the office is more than half of the population
sample. This is understandable as civil servants spend
close to nine (9) hours in the office. It is expected that
newspapers offer opportunity for relaxation to cushion the
effect of long hours spent in the office. In addition,
because newspapers are supplied officially in most
offices, it makes good sense to read such papers to
serve the purpose for which they were provided.
Research Question 4: Do Civil Servants buy the
preferred newspapers?
Answers to this research question were provided by
questions 19 and 20:
Question 19: How do you get the newspapers you read?
This question is to find out whether civil servants buy,
read the office copies or read at the news stand? Out of
the 200 respondents, 50 which represent 25.0% buy
newspapers. 70 respondents a 35.0% of the population
prefers to read from the copies of the newspapers provided
for their office. Another 70 respondents representing
35.0% of the population buy only when they feel like
doing so. Only 10 respondents which is an equivalent of
5.0% do not buy newspapers at all. This last category
attributes financial constraints for their inability to buy
newspapers. The result we have here shows that most
civil servants prefer to read official copies of newspapers.
Question 20: Do you buy the preferred newspaper
regularly? The question received attention from only 50
respondents out of which 40 representing 80.0% buy
newspapers regularly. The remaining 10 respondents
corresponding to 20.0% do not buy regularly. They
attributed the irregularity to lack of fund.
CONCLUSION
This paper sets out to examine newspaper readership in
Ekiti State. From the analysis, we discovered that
7
newspapers are a regular part of life of the civil service in
Ekiti State. The research revealed that the degree of
newspaper readership in Ekiti State civil service is high.
This fact is supported by the answers provided under the
research question one which shows that a significant
number (186) of the respondents reads newspapers.
The first major findings that bears relevance to this
work is that Ekiti State civil service is made up of highly
literate civil servants. This fact is supported through the
answers under the research question one. This is
however, not a surprise as the state is regarded
throughout the nation as the fountain of knowledge. This
fact is further supported by the answers provided under
item 6 of the research question one; do you read
newspapers? The response shows a total of 186 an
equivalent of 93.0% of the total population in favour of the
question. Under item 7, it is further discovered that civil
servants read newspapers regularly as shown in the
frequency of response as 68 representing 34.0% read
daily, 27.0% read occasionally and 22.0% read weekly.
The analysis also shows that civil servants have
preference for the Nations, the Punch and the Nigerian
Tribune.
We also found out that civil servants read newspapers
for the purpose of information, education and
entertainment. In addition, it was revealed that civil
servants prefer to read in the office. This fact is supported
by 52.8% of the population. A greater percentage of the
civil servants do not buy newspapers because the
ministry provides. Finally, we have been able to show
that newspapers are veritable instrument in the quality
performance of the civil service job.
REFERENCES
[1] Daramola I. Introduction to Mass Communication. Lagos. Rothan
Press. 2003.
[2] Bittner JR. Mass Communication: An Introduction, 5th ed, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1989.
[3] Daramola I. History and Development of Mass Communication.
Lagos. Rothan Press. 2006.
[4] Dennis E, Defleur M. Understanding Mass Communication, USA:
Houghtin Mifflin Co. 1994.
[5] Anaeto S, Onabajo O, Osifeso J. Models and theories of
Communication, Lagos, African Renaissance Books. 2008.
[6] Osuala EC. Introduction to Research Methodology, Onitsha: African
First Publishers. 1996.
[7] Kunle G, Popoola A. Publications Media and Method: A Practical
Approach. Lagos Bedslab Nigeria Ltd. 2005; P. 46

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Appendix
Section A
Instructions: Please tick ( ) in the appropriate box except where question demands otherwise.
1.)
In which ministry are you currently serving? (please state)
2.)
Sex:
(a.) Male (
)
(b.)
Female (
)
3.) Age:
(a.) 20-25 ( )
(b.) 26-30
4.) Educational qualification:
a.) ND ( )
b.) HND
( )
(
)
(c.) 31-35
( )
(d.) 36 and above
c.) B.Sc
( )
(
)
d.) Masters Degree
( )
Section B
1.)
a.)
Are Newspapers available in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State?
Yes ( )
b.) No ( )
6.) Do you read Newspapers?
a.) Yes ( )
b.) No ( )
7.) If yes, how often do you read them?
a.) Daily ( ) b.) Occasionally
( ) c.) Weekly
( ) d.) anytime by chance
( )
8.) If no, why?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
9.)
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
mention the newspaper (s) that you read
10.) Why do you read the newspaper (s)?
a.) for news ( )
b.) for information, education and entertainment ( )
c.) leisure ( )
11) Do you buy newspaper (s)?
a.) Yes ( ) b.) No ( )
12) If no, why?
a,) due to financial constraints ( )
b.) unavailability of the preferred newspaper (s) ( )
c.) other reasons (please state)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
e.) Others

6. Olusoji
13) Do you borrow the newspaper (s) that you read?
a.) Yes ( )
b.) No ( )
14) If yes, why?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
15.)
If no, why?
__ ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
16.)
What content of the newspaper (s) do you have a preference for?
a.) news ( ) b.) sports ( ) c.) education ( ) d.) business ( ) e.) others ( )
17.)
Which segment do you give more attention?
a.) news ( ) b.) sports ( ) c.) fashion ( ) d.) business ( ) e.) politics ( ) d.) others ( )
18) Where do you enjoy reading newspaper (s)
a.) Library ( ) b.) Office ( ) c.) News stand ( ) d.)
anywhere ( )
9