The NNPA Fund’s Black Press Day 2026 at Howard University brought together journalists, students and supporters to honor the legacy and future of the Black Press. The event featured discussions on innovation, including AI in newsrooms, ongoing digitization efforts, and the importance of intergenerational leadership, while also enshrining the late publisher Bernal E. Smith II for his lasting contributions to Black journalism.
Tag: Black Press
Posted inBlack Press
Black Press celebrates ties to Black Church in annual Sunday service
The Black Press, founded in 1827 by John Russwurm and Rev. Samuel Cornish, has been fighting for justice and equality for Black communities for 199 years, and continues to be an important source of information and advocacy today.
Posted inMedia
Civil Rights TV launches in Selma as the world’s first 24/7 Civil Rights Television Network
Civil Rights TV, the world’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to civil rights history, education, and future equity, has launched on the Connect To Your City OTT platform, powered by Connect2OTT, offering documentaries, news analysis, live discussions, educational programming, global civil rights coverage and cultural storytelling.
Posted inBaltimore News
Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The man who stopped
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was the keynote […]
Posted inBlack Press
From the AFRO Archives: A look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Press
The Black Press stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement, serving as both a chronicler and catalyst for change. From exposing racial terror to amplifying boycotts and voter education, Black newspapers helped shape the movement from within.
Posted inBlack Press
Charles F. Robinson III, award-winning journalist and news director, dies at 69
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Veteran journalist and news director Charles F. Robinson III died Dec. 15. Robinson was a giant of the Black Press and a vital member of the Maryland Public Television (MPT) team. Travis Mitchell, senior vice president and chief content officer at MPT, described Robinson as “one of the rare individuals […]
Posted inCommentary
The Black Press, public media, and press freedom: We must restore these cornerstones of a functioning democracy
By Shavon Arline-Bradley and Ja’Lia Taylor There is no democracy without a free press. That truth is especially urgent for Black women and our families, who have long relied on trusted media not only for information, but also for protection, representation and empowerment. In an era of disinformation, misinformation, political polarization and eroding trust in […]
Posted inBlack History
Black Press celebrates 198 years of advocacy
Journalists will gather at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., on March 16 to celebrate the 198-year legacy of the Black Press and the 60th anniversary of The Washington Informer. Publisher Denise Rolark emphasized the newspaper’s historical significance, its commitment to truth, and its digital expansion as a path forward to ensure Black voices remain represented in the evolving media landscape.
Posted inPOLITICS
The Black Press: The last line of defense as 47th president seizes control of the National Archives
Donald Trump’s takeover of the National Archives marks a chilling step in his campaign to rewrite history, erasing the truths that challenge his authoritarian ambitions, which threatens the preservation of Black history and truth itself.
Posted inNational News
Dr. Jamal Bryant’s 40-day Target ‘fast’ gains momentum
The Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant is leading a 40-day boycott of Target in response to the retailer’s decision to phase out its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and is calling for 100,000 people to sign a petition and halt their spending at Target as a direct challenge to the company’s retreat from its commitments to Black businesses and consumers.
Posted in2024 Elections
Tune in: Debate Night in Black America — A virtual conversation
Word In Black is hosting a virtual conversation on Sept. 10, 2024, before and after the ABC presidential debate, providing a platform for Black viewers to discuss the critical issues that matter to them.
Posted inPolitics
PRESS ROOM: Biden-Harris Campaign 2024 commits $1.5 million advertising buy with the Black Press of America
The Biden-Harris Campaign has committed $1.5 million to an advertising-buy with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and has also sponsored the NNPA’s 2024 Annual National Convention, emphasizing the importance of the Black Press of America.