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Black press
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul publisher named to national list of top solo entrepreneurs
Dr. Artika R. Tyner, founder of Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore in St. Paul, has been named a 2026 Zoom Solopreneur 50 honoree, selected from nearly 2,800 applicants across 48 states.
Posted inBlack History
Black press nears 200 years of telling our stories
Black Press Week celebrates 199 years of Black journalism and the enduring legacy of independent media serving Black communities across America.
Posted inMSR In the News
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.
Posted inMSR In the News
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.
Posted inNational
Two legacy Black Newspapers close, citing financial pressures
Black newspapers closing in Portland and Richmond highlight the growing financial challenges facing Black media as advertising revenue declines.
Posted inMSR In the News
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.
Posted inOpinion
History Will Remember Who Spoke and Who Hid
The arrest of Black journalists during live protest coverage signals a dangerous escalation against press freedom, raising urgent questions about the future of the First Amendment in America.
Posted inTelevision
Demond Wilson, Beloved ‘Sanford and Son’ Star, Dies at 79
Demond Wilson, the acclaimed actor who portrayed Lamont Sanford on the groundbreaking sitcom Sanford and Son, has died at age 79. His death marks the loss of a Black television icon whose work reshaped American comedy.
Posted inOpinion
NNPA Stands With Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, And All Arrested, And Demands All Charges Be Dropped
The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort echo a long history of targeting the Black Press in attempts to silence witnesses and suppress truth.
Posted inLocal & State
Man released from ICE custody a second time after warrantless arrest
A Minneapolis man was released from ICE custody after a federal judge ruled his warrantless home arrest unconstitutional, raising serious civil rights concerns.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
King’s unity required economic justice, Williams says
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, historian Yohuru Williams explains why Dr. King’s legacy must include economic justice and moral accountability.
Posted inEvents
This Giving Tuesday, Support the Black Press That Tells Our Stories and Protects Our Voice
Independent Black media has carried our stories for generations. This Giving Tuesday, the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder is asking the community to help preserve that legacy. Your support strengthens Black journalism, funds mentorship for young storytellers, and ensures our history continues to be documented with accuracy and care.
Posted inLocal & State
Remembering Wallace “Jack” Jackman: A life of leadership, laughter, and legacy
Wallace “Jack” O’Neal Jackman, known affectionately as Jackie or simply Jack, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to community. A loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jack’s life was a master class in combining heart, hustle, and humor. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Jack moved […]
Posted inLocal & State
Back in the Day award honors Al Brown as ‘Guardian of the Story’
Al Brown was awarded the 2025 Guardian of the Story Award at Southside Back In The Day for his decades of work in the Black Press and community storytelling, presented by MSR publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard.
Posted inLocal & State
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.
Posted inOpinion
National selective buying campaign targeting Target continues
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has launched a National Selective Buying and Public Education Campaign in response to Target Corporation’s retreat from its DEI commitments, and is calling for companies to invest in their communities and partner with Black-owned media companies.
Posted inOpinion
Black Press and Church join forces with Target boycott to fight DEI decline
Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, is leading a 40-day boycott of Target stores in response to the company’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Posted inLocal & State
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.
Posted inNational
Black students are the future of journalism
Black journalists are working to expand opportunities for young Black students to become the next generation of storytellers, as the Black press continues to be a force for change.