Black Press Day 2025 highlights need for innovation and resilience in media – Afro American Newspaper

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132 years ago we were covering Post-Reconstruction when a former enslaved veteran started the AFRO with $200 from his land-owning wife. In 2022 we endorsed Maryland’s first Black Governor, Wes Moore. And now we celebrate the first Black Senator from Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks!
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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Amid the uncertainty and flurry of change under the 47th president’s administration, President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA) Benjamin Chavis spoke at the NNPA Fund’s 2025 Black Press Day event in Washington, D.C.
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As a part of Black Press Week, the March 13 event helped recognize 198 years of the Black Press under the theme, “Where History Meets the Future of Black Media.”
There he addressed the State of the Black Press and laid out the necessary next steps for Black publishers and leaders throughout the U.S.
“The Black Press of America remains on the front lines of authentic journalism, reporting factual news,” said Chavis during the live-streamed event. “For the past 198 years, since the first publication of Freedom’s Journal on March 16, 1827, the Black Press continues to be an active advocate for freedom, justice, equality, empathy and empowerment.”
NNPA currently consists of 245 print publications and 13 digital and online publications.
During the State of the Black Press, Chavis referenced a quote from the initial publishers of Freedom’s Journal John Brown Russwurm and Rev. Samuel Cornish, which read, “Others for too long have spoken for us. We wish to plead our own cause.”
“That notable call was editorialized two centuries ago,” said Chavis. “What has changed? What is our cause today? What is the enduring mission of the Black Press of America?
“A lot has changed, but a lot has not changed,” continued Chavis. “Black Americans have made tremendous socio-economic and political progress since 1827. American racism has not changed. The pseudo-ideology of White supremacy has not changed, although it has become more digitized in social media and institutionalized in a range of government agencies.”
Chavis pressed that the perseverance and resilience of the Black Press remains intact, but suggested a few things leaders of Black media can implement to ensure they truly stay resilient.
“We need to work on how to best aggregate and distribute our news and advocacy content on all the current and emerging platforms,” said Chavis. “But print is our heart. Print is how we make the impact, even in the digital age.”
Chavis said members of the Black Press should make sure they fully understand what it means to be a part of Black media today and help others understand and appreciate its value.
“The value of the Black Press cannot and should not be understated or underestimated,” he said.
Chavis also suggested that the Black Press and the Black Church need a revival.
He recommended the Black Press and the Black Church hold mass meetings, a practice that dates back to the civil rights era, where publishers and Black pastors in each city come together to outline progress.
“We’re not going to make progress without our people,” said Chavis. “We have to represent and touch our people, our communities. They have to know that when we are out there on the front line, we represent their interests.”
Chavis pressed that through all that is thrown at Black members of the press in 2025, they should remember that they are the trusted voices of Black America.
“We’re not going to give up that trust for anything,” added Chavis.
132 years ago we were covering Post-Reconstruction when a former enslaved veteran started the AFRO with $200 from his land-owning wife. In 2022 we endorsed Maryland’s first Black Governor, Wes Moore. And now we celebrate the first Black Senator from Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks!
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The AFRO knows what it’s like to endure challenging times. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. Together they created a platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community. The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found.
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