Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Featured by WCCO
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder was recently featured by WCCO-TV, spotlighting the newspaper’s historic role in preserving and amplifying the stories of Minnesota’s Black community. In a Feb. 28 CBS Minnesota segment, CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard reflected on the publication’s legacy, civic impact and continued evolution in a changing media landscape.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder was recently featured by WCCO-TV, spotlighting the paper’s decades-long commitment to documenting and amplifying the stories of Minnesota’s Black community.
In a Feb. 28 segment reported by Adam Del Rosso for CBS Minnesota, MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard reflected on the newspaper’s historic role and continued mission.
Founded in 1934 by her grandfather, Cecil E. Newman, the publication began as two separate papers, the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder, before merging in 2000 to become the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Preserving Stories That Might Otherwise Be Lost
Williams-Dillard emphasized the unique role the paper has played in preserving community history.
For generations, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder has reported stories that were often overlooked or ignored by mainstream outlets. Its archives serve as a living record of cultural milestones, political movements, and everyday achievements within Minnesota’s Black community.
The WCCO report highlighted the depth of those archives and the sense of responsibility tied to maintaining them.
A Family Legacy of Civic Impact
The segment also underscored the paper’s influence beyond storytelling. Williams-Dillard shared how relationships between her grandfather and civic leaders helped shape political outcomes, including the Black community’s support of Hubert Humphrey during his rise from Minneapolis mayor to vice president of the United States.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s reporting and engagement helped connect political leadership to the Black community at a pivotal time in Minnesota history.
Journalism in a Changing Landscape
The feature arrives at a time when newspapers across the country continue to close or scale back operations. Williams-Dillard spoke candidly about the challenges facing print journalism and the importance of community support in sustaining independent Black media.
Despite industry shifts, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder continues to evolve through digital reporting, multimedia storytelling, and community engagement while remaining grounded in its founding mission.
Looking Ahead
As the WCCO segment makes clear, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is not only a historical institution but an active voice shaping present-day conversations.
With nearly a century of archives and a continued focus on community-centered journalism, the publication remains committed to telling the stories that define, uplift, and preserve Minnesota’s Black experience.
See the full WCCO feature on their website.