National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation to Salute Black Publishers

For Immediate Release          

Contact:
Thelma Walker, 847.404.9997, tmunsonwalker@yahoo.com
Adorn Lewis-Mitchell, 312.318.9696, adornlmitchell@aol.com

National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation to Salute Black Publishers

Enshrinement Ceremony Pays Homage to Legacy of Iconic Publishers

WASHINGTON, DC (March 10, 2014) – Charles Tisdale of the Jackson Advocate and M. Paul Redd of the Westchester County Press will be inducted into the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation (NNPAF) Gallery of Distinguished Black Publishers during a special enshrinement ceremony celebrating the memory of two of the organization’s most outstanding publishers.  The special ceremony will take place during the NNPAF’s annual Black Press Week convening, set for March 19-21, in Washington, DC.

Charles Tisdale

Charles Tisdale was much more than a publisher and radio show host.  He was a civil rights advocate clothed as a newspaper publisher.  His genuine concern about the welfare of all Jackson,MS, citizens led to his outspokenness about both black and white elected officials.  Backlash often resulted in personal death threats and brutality against his publication, which was firebombed on more than one occassion.  As host of a radio talk show on WMPR, Tisdale often took elected officials to task for not effectively serving their communities.

Tisdale purchased the Jackson Advocate in 1978 from Percy Green, the newspaper’s first owner.  The Jackson Advocate is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Mississippi.  Born November 5, 1926, the Athens, AL, native died on July 8, 2007 while undergoing dialysis.

M. Paul Redd

Likewise, the legacy of Westchester County Press publisher Paul Redd reads the same.  Redd’s passion for irradicating racism and bigotry inspired many to pursue careers in public service.  He made such a powerful impact in the region that on January 9, 2009, Mayor Clinton Young, Jr. declared a day of mourning and remembrance in the City of Mount Vernon to pay homage to the life and legacy of Redd.

His “M. Paul Tells All” column reminded Hudson Valley readers of Redd’s tell-it-like-it-is personna and candidness.  His vision was to see others achieve the American Dream.  Redd was born on August 11, 1928 in Martinsville, VA.  He died of complications from a massive heart attack in 2009.

Black Press Week Activities

With the theme “Access to Economic Empowerment,” the enshrinement ceremony memorializing Tisdale and Redd is part of several planned activities, including a panel discussion with The Empowerment Experiment co-founder Maggie Anderson where she will share how her family publicly committed to buy from Black-owned businesses for an entire year.  In addition to the special publishers enshrinement ceremony, other activities include a State of the Black Press Luncheon at the National Press Club; special Black Press & The Pulpit breakfast; visit to the White House; and other empowering events.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association is comprised of publishers of 200 Black newspapers representing more than 19.5 million readers.  Established more than 20 years ago, the NNPA Foundation is a 501 C(3) tax-exempt organization that has traditionally focused on pre-professional training and encouraging excellence in the industry. Its four traditional programs include: the Black Press Archives and Hall of Fame at Howard University, the A. Phillip Randolph Messenger Awards for Excellence in publishing and reporting, a summer internship program offering journalism students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at Black newspapers, and a scholarship fund providing financial assistance to college and graduate students with an interest in journalism. In 2000, the foundation created the Black Press Institute and the NorthStar Center for Civic Journalism as a means of revitalizing and enhancing its programmatic activities.

For more information, visit http://www.nnpa.org or call 202.588.7348.

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