Newspapers have been the basis of our history since their inception. Reporters were there on the scene to tell the story of what happened when, where, to whom and why. They are the closest reference one has to the actual events. It is from the pages of the newspapers that history books are written. We are the first draft of history.
In 1940, there were almost 1,900 daily newspapers in the United States. As of 2007, there were 1,422 left. That number has decreased markedly in 2009, with at least two newspapers ceasing print publication in the last week alone. Weekly newspapers are also a victim of this media landscape, with dozens of publications being bought up by daily news organization, thus losing their independent voices.
As for the Black press, the numbers are even dimmer. In 2000, the National Newspaper Publishers Association boasted a membership in excess of 300 newspapers. Today, that number has dwindled to 189.
These numbers are troubling on many levels. Firstly, because when you have fewer newspapers, or shall we say fewer newspaper owners, you have fewer voices. For example, one newspaper rooted in the Black community that focuses on the Black community sees a protest against police brutality in one way, while another newspaper may see the protest in a completely different light. But without that balance of views, only one side would be seen and, for the most part, it would be the view of the more powerful rather than the view from the people being directly affected. So as newspaper companies buy up other newspapers and independence is lost, other newspapers close, more voices are silenced. The press becomes monolithic and diversity among the mainstream is seen less and less. As newspapers downsize the reporters, including many of color who break news on issues of importance to our communities, get laid off or are bought out, silencing important voices of conscience and principle.
As for the Black press, it still stands. For the most part, it is still Black owned. It is still passed on from generation to generation, father to daughter, husband to wife. And despite transition, it still stays independent. The Black press was founded in 1827 with Freedom’s Journal. The first issue started with an editorial that stated, “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public[k] been deceived by misrepresentations in things which concern us dearly...” These words ring true today, as they did in 1827. The only difference is that today we have at least 189 voices in newspapers rather than a mere one.
The Black press still tells the story of Black America; we are the voice of Black America. Without the diversity of media, we would have more hate and disillusionment. And we certainly would not have Blacks in power. The Black press set the stage. We helped create the movement, and we have kept the movement alive. We have embraced the community and made it safe for our leaders to speak out and spoken out for them when they were silenced. We did not filter the voices of resistance or rewrite the history of the events that have brought this country to where it is now.
We have spoken truth to power and born the brunt of those repercussions. We laid our businesses on the line to speak truth and fight for justice. This week, we celebrate the 182nd birthday of the Black press: 182 years of struggle and progress, 182 years of history written by us for us. But the work must go on as the struggle continues.
