Impact of Cartoon on the Image and Patronage of the Nation Newspaper

This project centers on impact of cartoon on the image and patronage of the Nation Newspaper. This study tries to examine impact of cartoon on the image and patronage of the Nation Newspaper, using readers of the Nation newspaper in Ikeja Local Government Lagos state. This study adopts survey method using questionnaire as data collection instrument from the population who are relatively large in number, the population of this study readers of the Nation newspaper in Ikeja Local Government Lagos state, while One hundred and fifty respondents were sampled among readers of the Nation newspaper in Ikeja Local Government Lagos state, simple random sampling approach of Probability sampling technique and accidental approach of Non-probability sampling techniques were used interchangeably to stratified the respondent, This research employs Image Based Theory and Agenda Setting Theory to explain that Newspaper publishers are probably more interested in eliciting existing images or cartoon that could lead to desired behaviors, such as purchasing a newspaper or performing a desired behavior. It was also discovered that respondents said that the use of cartoon gives meaningful position to the contents of the newspaper and 90 percent of respondents agreed that cartoon complement the stories in the newspaper. It was recommended that newspaper managers are not getting the best out of cartoonist's because there is disequilibrium between what they feel a cartoonist's role should be and what his role really is while some editors feel that the cartoonist should be an illustrator, rendering what they cannot draw themselves, some perceive the cartoonist as a kind of medieval court fool, to be tolerated, but not taken seriously. This trend must change considering the vital roles cartoons play in the world of newspapers and magazines. Cartoonists that have served long and mature enough can occupy seats on the editorial board of media organizations.