Overview: Elevating legacy and digital innovation
MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard's appeared on AMPERS’ North Star Stories. The feature breaks down key moments from her conversation on honoring 92 years of continuous Black reporting, bridging generational divides through digital expansion, and centering community voices that mainstream media often overlooks.
MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard, who was recently inducted into the inaugural class of the Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame, appeared on the AMPERS podcast North Star Stories to reflect on 92 years of publication and share her vision for the newsroom’s digital-first future.
92 years of perseverance and evolution
Reflecting on the anniversary, Williams-Dillard noted that having a Black-owned newspaper for nearly a century is both a responsibility and a tribute to community resilience.
“To me, what the anniversary means is it’s been 92 years of a struggle, triumph, success, perseverance, and so many other words,” Williams-Dillard told North Star Stories co-host Victor Palomino. “But it also means more than anything is that we’re able to continue to uplift and tell the stories of the community.”
Having grown up around the newspaper since she was eight years old, Williams-Dillard said she’s witnessed the evolution of Black media firsthand. While the core mission remains unchanged, the methods for delivering news have expanded rapidly into digital spaces.
“For the whole digital transformation of us… going to social media more than anything, creating our podcast… I like it as far as being able to get it to people faster,” she said.
Mentoring Gen Z storytellers
As MSR shifts toward a digital-first strategy, Williams-Dillard emphasized the importance of bringing young storytellers into the fold—particularly young Black women stepping into journalism.
“Lately, there’s been a lot of African American young women, particularly, that are starting to look into the journalism field and wanting to become more involved in the news,” Williams-Dillard shared. “As a result of that, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to bring some younger writers on and some younger editors on, which is a blessing because they’re able to help with some of the storytelling we’re doing to embrace a younger readership.”
She noted that balancing new digital strategies with traditional print roots ensures the publication stays fresh for younger audiences without leaving behind long-standing readers.
Telling the full story
Throughout its history, MSR has covered pivotal moments across the Twin Cities, including long-term housing equity issues such as the Hollman Decree in North Minneapolis. Williams-Dillard pointed out that mainstream news outlets often miss crucial cultural context when reporting on Black communities.
“I want to continue to preserve our history with the truth, and telling the narratives and the stories that aren’t being told anywhere else,” Williams-Dillard said. “And when they are told, the portion that’s told is not the full story. I want to make sure we’re able to still be here to tell the full story.”
Click here to listen to the full podcast episode featuring MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard alongside AMPERS co-hosts Victor Palomino and Britt Aamodt.