The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), America’s largest and most influential Black-owned media trade organization, will hold its 75th Annual Convention June 16-20 in Detroit. Convening under the theme “Empowering a New Generation of Leadership,” all convention events will be held at the downtown Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, with the exception of the International Day of African Youth Program (Wayne County Community College Atrium), the Presidential Reception (Charles H. Wright Museum of African Americans History) and the Chairman’s Reception (MotorCity Casino).
The Michigan Chronicle, a longtime member of NNPA and the state’s largest Black-owned newspaper, will serve as the convention’s host publisher.
“It is a tremendous honor to welcome this historic body of Black-owned newspapers to Detroit,” said Hiram E. Jackson, publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, who also sits on NNPA’s national board of directors and chairs its digital committee. “NNPA has been a strong voice of Black America for 75 years and it continues to address issues that impact every element of everyday life in the nation’s Black communities and beyond. Detroit is evolving on so many fronts, so to have the storied NNPA meet in our city, as the organization reaches new heights, is incredible for both Detroit and NNPA.”
“We are extremely excited about holding the 75th Annual NNPA Convention in Detroit,” said Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA president and CEO. “Detroit has had a long tradition of publishing outstanding African American-owned newspapers. The Michigan Chronicle is one of the most important newspapers in America. It’s wonderful that we are coming to a world-class city that’s experiencing a comeback. We are looking forward to being there to help celebrate its comeback as we celebrate and reflect on the present and future of the NNPA.”
The five-day conference will feature a series of workshops, training sessions, informational forums, interactive panels, speeches and other presentations that will proactively address print, digital and social media platforms used by the membership of NNPA. Additionally, other presentations will focus on economic development and sustainability in the Black community, as well as hot-button issues confronting the Black community, including deadly police violence, high unemployment, the need to improve education, among other topics. The convention will also hold its Legacy Awards, NNPA Foundation Merit Awards Dinner, swear in new board members, and salute Black church leaders at a gospel brunch, which will feature gospel recording artist Vickie Winans.
The history of the NNPA dates back to 1940, when John H. Sengstacke, owner and publisher of the historic Chicago Defender, convened publishers of Negro newspapers from across the country to address problems in advertising, editorial and newsgathering. Furthermore, Sengstacke wanted to explore strategies and ways to harmonize and maximize critical messages needed to help elevate Black Americans out the doldrums of a very segregated nation. Initially called the National Negro Publishers Association, in 1956, the organization changed its name to the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
Chavis applauds the growth of NNPA over its first 75 years.
“On one hand we have made tremendous progress, on the other we must keep pushing forward,” he said. “Therefore, we just can’t look to the past, we have to learn from the past to improve the present and have a greater sense of self-determination for the future.
“The state of Black-owned newspapers is at a pivotal moment, where we have to expand what we do by complementing what we do in the print world with social media and other digital platforms. It all works together. In other words, we have to use the multiple media platforms and technologies that are available to deliver pertinent messages to our readers in new and innovative ways.”
The NNPA’s membership is comprised of over 200 Black-owned newspapers across the United States. Collectively, they reach about 20.1 million readers each week, which is factored to include the four-to-five person “pass-on-rate,” which surpasses normal distribution and circulation of Black newspapers. The NNPA’s membership reaches approximately five million readers each week using digital platforms.
“Digital platforms are the wave of the future,” Chavis said. “We have to find better ways to be more creative and innovative to have our trusted voices heard. Our convention, this year, will offer great platforms to discuss how we go about meeting the digital challenges that are vital to the growth of the NNPA and its membership.”
“We have a trusted voice that’s more important now than ever, especially when one looks at what’s going on in Ferguson and in Baltimore and in America’s Black communities,” said Jackson, who as CEO of Real Time Media, oversees the publishing of such historic Black newspapers as the Michigan Chronicle, Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier and Atlanta Daily World, as well as the company’s RTM Digital Studio. Real Times Media also produces special events and publishes specialty/niche books that chronicle the achievements of African Americans living and working in almost 30 national markets.
“The Black press has been given this huge responsibility of trust and we must continue to honor it for the betterment of Black America.”
For more information about the NNPA and its many programs and services, or to learn more about the 75th Annual NNPA Convention in Detroit, log on to www.nnpa.org, contact the national office at 202.588.7348 or email Jackie Willis at jackiewillis@nnpa.org.
About Post Author
