ABSTRACT
The basic goal of the research is to examine the
influence of graphical cartoons in newspaper publication with a case study of
the Punch Newspaper, Lagos. It is observed that since the first appearance of
cartoon in newspaper, it has remained one of the most integral parts of
newspaper. It plays different role depending on the type of cartoon and caption
used. Cartoon to many is an entertainment and funny graphics. One of the major
reasons for using cartoon in newspaper is to set agenda on current issue or
matter which may neither be expressed by news and features including editorial
page. However, due to the power and freedom enjoy by cartoon which news,
articles and editorial writers lack make it possible for cartoonists to use
cartoon to tell what reporters and feature writers are afraid of writing.
Survey research method was adopted coupled with 150 copies of questionnaires
that were administered to the respondents within the Punch newspaper. It
recommends that print
media should give cartoonists more freedom to operate while appropriate space
should be allotted as well also, cartoonists should do away with cartoons that
can generate tension and clashes such as the one published about Prophet
Muhammad in the recent time.
