The proliferation of blogging sites has transformed the news landscape in Nigeria, offering a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. In the light of this, this study examines audience perception of the impact of blogging sites on news consumption habits in Nigeria. The researchers embarked on this study to examine the extent to which Nigerian audiences rely on blogging sites as sources of news; assess the impact of blogging sites on news consumption behavior and preferences and examine audience perceptions of the role of blogging sites in shaping public discourse and opinion formation. Based on these objectives, three research questions were formulated to serve as a guide for this study. The study was anchored on the democratic participant media theory and supported by the alternative media theory. The survey research design was employed for this study, and data were collected through questionnaire. Findings reveal that Nigerian media audiences greatly rely on blogging sites as sources of news as these sites provide them with access to diverse perspectives and alternative viewpoints that may be underrepresented or marginalized in traditional media outlets. The study also found out that blogging sites have had a significant impact on news consumption behavior and preferences as they offer a diverse range of perspectives, often catering to niche interests or alternative viewpoints not covered by traditional news outlets. The study concludes that blogging sites have been celebrated for democratizing access to information, providing platforms for marginalized voices, and offering alternative perspectives not always covered by mainstream media. This inclusivity resonates with audiences seeking diverse viewpoints and a more comprehensive understanding of local and global issues. This study therefore recommends that media organizations and bloggers should implement initiatives to enhance media literacy among the Nigerian audience, focusing on critical thinking skills and fact-checking abilities. By empowering individuals to discern credible information from misinformation or biased content on blogging sites, they can make more informed decisions about their news consumption habits.
Vol. 4, No 1, pp. 26-33.