The Minnesota Spokesman–Recorder is an African-American, English-language newspaper headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and serves readers in the Twin Cities. Founded in 1934 by Cecil Earle Newman (who remained editor until his death in 1976),[2] it is the oldest continuously operated black newspaper and longest-lived black-owned business in Minnesota.[3][4][5] The current Publisher & CEO of the paper is Newman's granddaughter, Tracey Williams-Dillard.[3][6]
 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Tracey Williams-Dillard |
| Founder(s) | Cecil Newman |
| Publisher | Tracey Williams-Dillard |
| Founded | August 10, 1934 |
| Language | American English |
| Headquarters | 3744 Fourth Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55409 |
| City | Minneapolis |
| Country | United States |
| Circulation | 9,800 (as of 2024)[1] |
| Readership | Twin Cities |
| OCLC number | 43310423 |
| Website | spokesman-recorder |
History
editThe newspaper's first issue appeared on August 10, 1934, as the St. Paul Reporter.[7] Until 2000, it released weekly alongside The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, also published and edited by Newman (until his death in 1976).[2][8][9] The newspaper office moved from St. Paul to 3744 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, in 1958.[10] Under Newman's leadership, the newspaper played a key role in the civil rights movement in Minnesota.
After Newman's death in 1976, his wife Launa took over operation of the papers. In 2000, she merged them into a single title, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. In 2007, Newman's granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard became CEO of the paper.[3]
The late photographer, filmmaker, writer, and composer Gordon Parks was a photo-journalist for the newspaper.[11]
The newspaper building on Fourth Avenue was declared a historic landmark in 2015 for its association with the civil rights movement in Minnesota.[11]
The Minnesota Spokesman–Recorder is a member of the National Newspaper Association, Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Minnesota Minority Media Coalition, and Minnesota Newspaper Association.[12][13]
In 2021, the newspaper's archives from 1934 to 1964 were publicly digitized in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Minnesota Historical Society.[5][14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Minnesota Newspaper Directory 2024" (PDF). Minnesota Newspaper Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Glover, Maury (2021-11-08). "Oldest Black newspaper in Minnesota to headline new season of 'Small Business Revolution'". FOX 9. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ^ a b c "About Minnesota spokesman-recorder. (Minneapolis, MN) 2000-current". Chronicling America, Historic Newspapers. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ Sanna, James (July 15, 2008). "Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder turns 75". Twin Cities Daily Planet.
- ^ a b Mikus, Matt (30 May 2021). "'Super cool': Minnesota's oldest Black-owned newspaper puts its archive online". MPR News. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ Raihala, Ross (13 November 2021). "Streaming show 'Small Business Revolution' shines the light on six Black-owned Twin Cities businesses". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder". African American Registry. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ Leipold, L. E. (2005). "Cecil E. Newman, Newspaper Publisher, quoted by The African American Registry". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
- ^ Burnside,Tina (2017). "Southside African American Community, Minneapolis". www.mnopedia.org. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ Brandt, S (2015). "Spokesman-Recorder building moving toward historic designation". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ a b "Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Building Individual Landmark". Minneapolis.MN.gov. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "Members of the National Newspaper Association". NNPA.org. 18 July 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "About the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder". Spokesman-Recorder.com. 4 October 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota's oldest Black-owned newspaper puts archive online". The Associated Press. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
Further reading
edit- Shapiro, Ari (April 8, 2021). "How A Minnesota Paper Is Covering The Chauvin Trial From The Black Perspective". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2021-04-17.