The Nieman Foundation presented the 1995 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism to Olatunji Dare, former editorial chairman for the Guardian Group of Newspapers in Lagos, Nigeria.
When the 1995 Class of Nieman Fellows selected Dare he was still chairman and columnist for what was considered the most responsible newspaper in Nigeria. The Guardian, however, had been shut down in August 1994 by Gen. Sani Abacha after the paper reported on power struggles within his military government.
This fall, The Guardian was allowed to resume publication under rigid self-censorship terms after its publisher was named to the federal cabinet and the newspaper printed an abject apology for its earlier behavior. Dare refused to knuckle-under to these terms and resigned.
When the 1995 Class of Nieman Fellows selected Dare he was still chairman and columnist for what was considered the most responsible newspaper in Nigeria. The Guardian, however, had been shut down in August 1994 by Gen. Sani Abacha after the paper reported on power struggles within his military government.
This fall, The Guardian was allowed to resume publication under rigid self-censorship terms after its publisher was named to the federal cabinet and the newspaper printed an abject apology for its earlier behavior. Dare refused to knuckle-under to these terms and resigned.
