From printing paper editions as a kid to leading a statewide digital newsroom, MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard joined AMPERS radio to discuss 92 years of family legacy, mentoring young Black journalists, and keeping community history alive.
MSR In the News
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MSR marks 92 years of telling our own story
As MSR marks 92 years, longtime contributors Jerry Freeman and Charles Hallman reflect on decades in the Black Press and the truths only it can tell. Editor Jasmine McBride has their story.
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Legacy Yacht Cruise toasts MSR’s 92nd anniversary on the St. Croix
MSR celebrated 92 years aboard the Legacy Yacht Cruise on the St. Croix River, drawing more than 300 guests across four decks of music, dancing, Black-owned vendors and raffles. Contributing writer Tony Kiene has the full recap, plus a photo gallery from the night.
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In MSR’s 92nd year, publisher and CEO reflects on her grandfather’s legacy
MSR turns 92. CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard reflects on grandfather Cecil Newman’s founding of Minnesota’s Black press legacy.
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MSR’s Tracey Williams-Dillard among inaugural inductees to Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame
MSR Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard is among nine visionaries inducted into the inaugural Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame, celebrating generations of economic and cultural impact.
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Perry Talks 2026 Brought Together Powerful Voices at George Floyd Square
The 2026 Perry Talks symposium brought together Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard and other distinguished voices near George Floyd Square for a timely conversation on racial justice and First Amendment rights during the Rise & Remember Festival.
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On the Radar Host Damenica Ellis Joins City Cast Twin Cities to Spotlight Black Creatives
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis joined City Cast Twin Cities to discuss the podcast’s mission to elevate Black creatives.
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MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard Joins National Panel on Reporting ICE and Protests at LMA Summit
Tracey Williams-Dillard joined a panel at the LMA Summit discussing reporting on ICE enforcement, protests and the role of local journalism.
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Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Joins National Leaders at 2026 LMA Summit in New York
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder joined national media leaders at the 2026 LMA Summit in New York City to discuss the future of local journalism.
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WCCO Highlights Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s Legacy of Lifting Black Voices
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder WCCO feature highlights the paper’s decades-long commitment to preserving and amplifying Minnesota’s Black community stories.
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City of Minnetonka Visits Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder for Community Tour
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder newsroom tours offer organizations an inside look at Black press history, multimedia storytelling and community-centered journalism.
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Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder welcomes Scott Selmer as assigning editor
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is proud to welcome Scott Selmer as its new assigning editor. With robust experience in law, journalism, and community advocacy, Selmer brings a deep commitment to truth-telling and a lifelong belief in the power of Black media to uplift voices too often left unheard. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, a small, […]
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City nominates Spokesman-Recorder for national historic recognition
After a year-long study, Minneapolis is advancing National Register nominations for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and the former home of Harry Davis Sr. The effort recognizes Black history, secures access to preservation funding, and lays groundwork for future listings.
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Minneapolis Seeks Historic Recognition for MSR and Other African American Landmarks
The MSR National Register nomination places Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper on a path to national recognition, alongside the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and the former home of Harry Davis Sr. A year-long city study underpins the effort and could unlock preservation grants and tax credits.
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91st Anniversary Gala balanced celebration with reflection
On August 16, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrated 91 years of service with a gala at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel. The evening honored the Black press’s enduring legacy while affirming its future through music, history, and community reflection.
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Carrying the MSR’s story forward
The MSR Legacy Yacht Cruise honored 91 years of storytelling and Black community with a night of music, joy, and connection on the St. Croix.
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Above all else, gratitude
Senior Editor Jerry Freeman reflects on his 30-year journey with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, honoring the people and purpose behind 91 years of Black Press legacy.
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MSR publisher twice honored during Juneteenth
Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with two Juneteenth awards for her contributions to Black media, legacy, and leadership.
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Tracey Williams-Dillard honored with Congressional Record Award for over 50 Years in journalism
Tracey Williams-Dillard, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with a Congressional Record Award by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar for more than 50 years of service in journalism and her commitment to amplifying Black voices in Minnesota.
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Sculpture honoring Cecil Newman delivered to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
A bronze sculpture of Cecil E. Newman, created by Vi Runquist, was delivered to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder on March 20, 2025, to honor Newman’s legacy as a champion of Black journalism and social progress in Minnesota.