HARLEM — The New York Amsterdam News is highly regarded within the Black press community. Despite the challenges posed by the evolving media landscape, the newspaper is drawing on its rich history to navigate its way forward.
Publisher Elinor Tatum highlights numerous instances where the newsroom has championed the interests of its predominantly minority audience. Notably, Tatum emphasizes the paper’s extensive coverage of The Central Park Five case as a significant contribution.
“We have been telling the stories other people will not tell, through our lens, through the lens of our community,” Tatum said.
“The resilience of the Black press is remarkable. These are family-owned enterprises that have been passed down through generations with an unwavering commitment to staying afloat,” explains AmNews Educational Foundation CEO Siobhan Bennett. Bennett acknowledges the enduring dedication and sacrifices made by Tatum and her family over the years. She adds, “Against all odds, the Tatum family has managed to sustain this publication, covering all its expenses, but we are now at a critical juncture.”
The Amsterdam News and many newspapers have struggled to keep their business footing. To help elevate some of the financial pressure, the paper is launching a preservation project. Tatum, Bennett and the paper’s staff are working with preservationists to transform the historic newsroom into a public gathering and education center. The goal is to make the Harlem building a historic landmark that celebrates the Amsterdam News’ work and the role of the Black press.
As the paper ends one chapter and begins the next, Tatum sees the project as “a way to preserve all of that and to tell the story of Black New York at the same time.”
