The Minnesota Spokesman–Recorder is an African-American, English-language newspaper headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and serves readers in the Twin Cities. Founded in 1934 by Cecil Earle Newman (who remained editor until his death in 1976),[2] it is the oldest continuously operated black newspaper and longest-lived black-owned business in Minnesota.[3][4][5] The current Publisher & CEO of the paper is Newman's granddaughter, Tracey Williams-Dillard.[3][6]
History
The newspaper's first issue appeared on August 10, 1934, as the St. Paul Reporter.[7] Until 2000, it released weekly alongside The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, also published and edited by Newman (until his death in 1976).[2][8][9] The newspaper office moved from St. Paul to 3744 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, in 1958.[10] Under Newman's leadership, the newspaper played a key role in the civil rights movement in Minnesota.
After Newman's death in 1976, his wife Launa took over operation of the papers. In 2000, she merged them into a single title, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. In 2007, Newman's granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard became CEO of the paper.[3]
The late photographer, filmmaker, writer, and composer Gordon Parks was a photo-journalist for the newspaper.[11]
The newspaper building on Fourth Avenue was declared a historic landmark in 2015 for its association with the civil rights movement in Minnesota.[11]
The Minnesota Spokesman–Recorder is a member of the National Newspaper Association, Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Minnesota Minority Media Coalition, and Minnesota Newspaper Association.[12][13]
