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Black Press Consumers’ Message to NNPA: Keep Growing, Amplifying Community News

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “From now on, I would like to see the Black Press continue to grow. This could be in the form of owning television stations, podcasts, digital apps, media companies, and marketing solutions to guarantee visibility that challenges the outdated mainstream’s longstanding narratives that are sometimes stereotypical when concerning Black culture,” said recording artist Jacoby Jelks, who once appeared on an NNPA livestream.
The post Black Press Consumers’ Message to NNPA: Keep Growing, Amplifying Community News first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

June 11, 2022

Oakland Post

Part 2 in a Series Celebrating 195 Years of the Black Press of America

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association of the 230-plus Black-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America, is poised to observe the 195th anniversary of the birth of Freedom’s Journal and the Black Press.

An informative and entertaining convention kicks off at the Hilton Riverside Hotel on June 22 in New Orleans with the theme, “195 Years of the Black Press: Amplifying our Voices for Freedom, Justice, Equality, and Equity.”

NNPA Newswire has embarked on four-part series featuring some of its most dedicated consumers ahead of the convention.

Already during the series, readers and other consumers have shared why the Black Press remains vital after 195 years.

In Part II, they’ve asserted what they’d like to see from the Black Press today and in the years and decades ahead.

“I would like to see the Black Press continue moving and growing forward,” said Joni King, who has championed NNPA’s live morning show, Let It Be Known, since its inception in January 2021.

Artist Jacoby Jelks, who once appeared on an NNPA livestream, wants the Black Press to expand to other mediums.

“From now on, I would like to see the Black Press continue to grow. This could be in the form of owning television stations, podcasts, digital apps, media companies, and marketing solutions to guarantee visibility that challenges the outdated mainstream’s longstanding narratives that are sometimes stereotypical when concerning Black culture,” Jelks stated.

Michelle Madison, who subscribes to BlackPressUSA.com, said the onslaught of social media has made it challenging in many ways, “with more and more people receiving much of their news via the internet.”

However, Madison offered her belief in a “two-fold method.”

“First, there needs to be a contrived effort to attract people to purchasing, subscribing, and reading actual newspapers,” Madison insisted.

“Second, there needs to be a focus on addressing those that rely mainly on social media for their news. Based on my own informal research, many baby boomers and millennials seldom purchase newspapers.”

Madison continued:

“Typically, these groups are more inclined to subscribe to an online news service. However, I know of people in the age range of 50 and older who purchase newspapers and support Black media.

“However, that group is waning. The Black Press must make a concerted effort to attract them. Also, the readers should feel that their voice is being heard. I believe that this could be achieved by proactively incorporating millennials and generation X into the editorial content and staff of Black newspapers.”

She concluded that the Black Press “must aggressively seek advertisers and subscribers that are not afraid to hear the truth, according to Black people.”

Subscriber David Youngblood added that the Black Press should employ younger reporters and storytellers of all ages.

“I would like to see more voices challenge my progressive beliefs,” Youngblood asserted. “I would like to see more history lessons and more interviews with members of Congress.”

Youngblood encouraged the Black Press to continue efforts to bring subject matter experts on programs like Let It Be Known.

“I’d like to see a brief feature of each newspaper every day where they tell us what’s in the news in their specific city,” he said.

“Not just crime and violence, but local good news with local people.”

Entrepreneur Ashley King said she’d like the Black Press to include other marginalized voices in its coverage.

“Particularly other races and those with disabilities,” King stated. “I would also like for us to highlight more positive stories of those in the majority that help, support, and propel the Black voice,” she stated.

Chenadra Washington of the Washington International PR Firm admitted that it wasn’t until recently that she discovered the value of the Black Press.

“I am 35, and I texted a few friends, and they didn’t know anything about BlackPressUSA,” Washington said.

“With that, more brand awareness is needed, especially for generations younger than me.”

For decades, Isiah Gamble said he’d been a consumer of such Black Press jewels as The Amsterdam News, Philadelphia Tribune, and the AFRO.

He said he’d passed that appreciation down to his grandchildren, who regularly peruse the pages of the Black Press.

“I feel sorry for those who say they don’t know the Black Press,” Gamble remarked.

“I feel sorry because they should be ashamed. The Black Press is an institution like no other.

“Sure, having younger voices move in is always a good idea for any business, but if you’re paying attention to the Black Press and not the hustle and fake stuff put out by other news organizations, you’d know that the Black Press speaks to all of us, young and old, male, and female, poor and wealthy.”

Gamble concluded:

“I believe the one-piece missing is that the Black Press should look into being more visible at events like the Essence Festival, the Jamaican and Puerto Rican parades, and even going over to Europe and sharing their stories there.”

The NNPA’s convention and the celebration of the 195th anniversary of the Black Press is open to the public. For great hotel rates and tickets to some of the signature events at the convention, visit https://www.nnpa-events.com/

The post Black Press Consumers’ Message to NNPA: Keep Growing, Amplifying Community News first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.