Assessment of Newspaper Readership Patterns and News Credibility Perception Among Residents in Port Harcourt

Print newspaper readership has declined globally in the face of digital news competition, but its trajectory in Nigerian cities, where digital infrastructure remains uneven, warrants specific investigation. This study assessed newspaper readership patterns and credibility perceptions among adult residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 280 residents drawn through systematic random sampling from four neighbourhoods representing different socioeconomic profiles. The questionnaire collected data on frequency of newspaper reading, preferred titles, news section preferences, and a 15-item credibility assessment scale adapted from the Gaziano-McGrath credibility scale for the Nigerian context. Results revealed that only 38.6 percent of respondents read print newspapers at least once weekly, compared to 74.3 percent who accessed news via smartphone. Among newspaper readers, The Punch (52.7 percent) and Vanguard (38.4 percent) were the most read titles. Credibility ratings were significantly higher for print newspapers than for social media news (mean 3.9 versus 2.8 on a 5-point scale; p < 0.001). Trust in newspaper editorials decreased significantly with respondent age below 35 years. Advertising content was identified as a credibility-reducing factor by 61.4 percent of respondents. The study concludes that while print newspaper reach is contracting in Port Harcourt, its credibility advantage over digital-native sources remains intact, particularly among older and more educated audiences. Publishers should leverage this trust advantage in hybrid print-digital strategies. Keywords: newspaper readership, news credibility, print journalism, Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria