"we wish to plead our own cause. too long have others spoken for us." - Freedom's journal
On March 16, 1827, a group of free Black men founded Freedom's Journal, a four -paged weekly publication that became the first African American owned and operated newspaper in the United States (PBS). Edited by Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm, Freedom's Journal contained stories about current events, editorials, and anecdotes. However, the paper was also used to address issues, such as slavery, and published counter racist commentary that was popular in mainstream media (PBS).
For the first time in history, African Americans sought ownership of their own publications to share the stories and images often ignored or criticized by the dominant White media. "For we believe," the editors wrote, "that a paper devoted to the dissemination of, useful knowledge among our brethren and to their moral and religious improvement, must meet with the cordial approbation of every friend to humanity," (Freedom Journal, Vol. 1).
As Wilson and Chock emphasized in their article, "New Voices on the Net?" African Americans who own media firms and also those employed by them as content producers are more likely to produce more and better content about their communities (247). However, as Wilson and Chock also noted, the exclusion of minorities from print journalism is "chronic," (248).
In 2009, ANSE reported that Black print journalist are declining in both absolute numbers and in terms of their share of newsroom positions (249). In fact, the number of Black newsroom staff declines from a peak of 2,985 in 2005 to 2,412 in 2009. In terms of ownership, the U.S. Economic Census reported that only 2.4 percent of newspaper owners are Black.
Another important factor in African American print journalism are magazines. There are several African American magazines published across the nation, but according to the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, the five most prominent African American magazines are Ebony, Jet, Essence, Black Enterprise and Uptown (State of the Media). In the Pew Center's 2013 State of the Media report, which included a report specifically about African American media, African American newspapers and magazines are facing several challenges, primarily lost circulation and searching for advertising revenue (State of the Media 2013). As a result, publications are reducing their publishing model (for example, changing from weekly to bi-weekly) and/or reducing the number of staff members.
As an African American journalist, these numbers quite honestly disturb me. As I start planning out my future career, do I really want to work for a media company with only a handful of African Americans? Are the stories I write for a majority White audience? Will a story that impacts the African American community be ignored by the mainstream press?
External Sources cited:
Freedom's Journal (PBS)
"The State of the News Media: African American: A Year of Turmoil and Opportunity"
For the first time in history, African Americans sought ownership of their own publications to share the stories and images often ignored or criticized by the dominant White media. "For we believe," the editors wrote, "that a paper devoted to the dissemination of, useful knowledge among our brethren and to their moral and religious improvement, must meet with the cordial approbation of every friend to humanity," (Freedom Journal, Vol. 1).
As Wilson and Chock emphasized in their article, "New Voices on the Net?" African Americans who own media firms and also those employed by them as content producers are more likely to produce more and better content about their communities (247). However, as Wilson and Chock also noted, the exclusion of minorities from print journalism is "chronic," (248).
In 2009, ANSE reported that Black print journalist are declining in both absolute numbers and in terms of their share of newsroom positions (249). In fact, the number of Black newsroom staff declines from a peak of 2,985 in 2005 to 2,412 in 2009. In terms of ownership, the U.S. Economic Census reported that only 2.4 percent of newspaper owners are Black.
Another important factor in African American print journalism are magazines. There are several African American magazines published across the nation, but according to the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, the five most prominent African American magazines are Ebony, Jet, Essence, Black Enterprise and Uptown (State of the Media). In the Pew Center's 2013 State of the Media report, which included a report specifically about African American media, African American newspapers and magazines are facing several challenges, primarily lost circulation and searching for advertising revenue (State of the Media 2013). As a result, publications are reducing their publishing model (for example, changing from weekly to bi-weekly) and/or reducing the number of staff members.
As an African American journalist, these numbers quite honestly disturb me. As I start planning out my future career, do I really want to work for a media company with only a handful of African Americans? Are the stories I write for a majority White audience? Will a story that impacts the African American community be ignored by the mainstream press?
External Sources cited:
Freedom's Journal (PBS)
"The State of the News Media: African American: A Year of Turmoil and Opportunity"