Editorials in the "West African Pilot", an English-language newspaper published in Lagos, for the years 1945, 1957, 1960, and 1963 (years of crucial importance to Nigeria) were studied to determine the effects of modernity, tradition, fluctuating socioeconomic conditions, and particularly political influences exerted on the press. Each editorial was coded according to its contextual, societal, socio-concept, and evaluative orientation. Most of the editorials treated national/regional issues, politics, and individual persons and groups, and reflected an "official" version of political and social conditions. Assuming the "Pilot" to be representative of the African press, results of this study show that the medium is characterized more by feeling, sensation, and intuition than by critical thinking. (CH)