The National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund (NNPAF), Black Press, and Howard University’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center hosted the official Black Press Week Reception. Hosted in Howard’s Blackburn Center on Wednesday, March 16th the event marked the 199-year anniversary of the Freedom’s Journal, the first black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States.
As Black Press approaches its 200-year milestone, and the NNPA Fund celebrates its 50th anniversary, the legacy remains one of the most powerful and enduring forces in American journalism. For 199 years, The Black Press has chronicled the reality of Black existence and confronted injustice. Since 1976, the NNPA Fund has funded programs that uphold the Black Press’s legacy through scholarships and programming that encourage journalistic excellence for future generations.
Highlighting the legacy of the Black Press and the NNPA Fund, the theme “Truth, Justice and Equality” was prominently reflected throughout the reception. Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the President and CEO of NNPA, served as the keynote speaker. His remarks emphasized the enduring responsibility of Black journalists to preserve truth and advocate for equity in an increasingly complex media landscape.
Following the keynote address, attendees were treated to an interactive AI in Journalism panel discussion moderated by Washington Association of Black Journalists President Phil Lewis. Panelists included: Howard University School of Communications Dean, Ingrid Sturgis, Baltimore Times Publisher, Paris Brown, Washington Informer reporter Rah-Jah Kelly, and NNPA Fund Digital Director, Alexandria Green-Jones. The panelists shared the latest AI apps and tools that media professionals should incorporate and why they should embrace the AI movement. The reception not only included influential speakers but also entertainment provided by the Howard University Community Choir who sang several gospel renditions.
Closing out the reception, Howard University faculty and students of the Moorland Spingarn Institute presented updates on the Black Press Archives and the Digitization Process with the Enshrinement of Publisher Bernal E. Smith of the Tri-State Defender.
Together, the Black Press and the NNPA Fund represent a call to action to safeguard and transform Black media for future generations.