July 9, 2009 — vol. 44, no 48
Banner suspends publication; cites loss of ad revenues
In an undated photograph, Dr. Charles Steward stands near the entrance of The Guardian, the weekly newspaper started by his brother-in-law William Monroe Trotter. Steward and his wife, Maude, ran the paper after Trotter’s death in 1934. Maude died in 1957 and with Dr. Steward’s blessing, Melvin B. Miller started the Banner eight years later. The Banner announced Monday it is suspending publication after 44 years. (Banner file photo)
Management of the Bay State Banner has decided to suspend publication with this week’s edition, ending — at least temporarily — the long-running, African American-owned weekly newspaper.
Publisher and Editor Melvin B. Miller started the newspaper in 1965, focusing coverage on the social, political and economic condition of the African American community. In a brief statement released Monday, Miller said that the economic recession had finally taken its toll on the Banner.
“The severe reduction of advertising during this recession has placed a burden on the resources of the 44-year-old weekly newspaper,” Miller said. “Publication is expected to resume once financial arrangements have been completed.”
A Roxbury man, Miller graduated from Boston Latin, Harvard and Columbia Law School. When he started the newspaper, Miller saw his mission as continuing the tradition of the Guardian, the weekly newspaper founded by William Monroe Trotter in 1901. Trotter was an outspoken critic of Booker T. Washington and reserved his sharpest criticism for the segregationist policies of President Woodrow Wilson.
After Trotter’s untimely death in 1934, his sister Maude and her husband, Dr. Charles Steward, ran the Guardian until her death in 1957. With Dr. Steward’s blessings, Miller started the Banner eight years later.
Based on recent audited figures, the Banner has a print circulation of nearly 34,000 and has a readership of about 150,000.
In recent years, the Banner has launched a Web site, which now averages about 1 million new visitors each month, and several new publications to diversify revenue streams and create different advertising platforms. The new publications include “Be Healthy,” a monthly health supplement focused on reducing racial disparities through public awareness; “Inclusion,” an annual glossy magazine on diversity; and “Exhale,” a quarterly magazine focused on women’s health.
A planned fourth publication, “Step Up,” recently received a $50,000 grant from The Boston Foundation to highlight the achievements of students of color throughout the Boston Public Schools system.
Miller would not disclose any further details.
| Aug 4 20:15pm by Dedicated On Line Reader [198.147.225.157] | |
Once A Roxbury/Boston resident now living in Los Angeles. I look forward to keeping up with the Current Events of the area. I read the On Line publication of the Bay State Banner Newspaper. I hope you will keep this very informative publication printing. |
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| Jul 23 6:04am by Lee [208.252.179.25] | |
As a long time resident of Boston, though I grew up in a community in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Canarsie), I can recall as a child selling the Canarsie Courier. A local community paper selling for 10 cents at that time. Perhaps, for a small fee, those patrons claiming to now miss the Banner's publications could perhaps offer to purchase it, more over, make some sort of small donation in helping to render revenues which perhaps may just be enough to keep the paper solvent...? Simply a suggestion. |
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| Jul 22 16:49pm by lrw [96.237.135.250] | |
This is a time for all the Marthas Vinyard vacationers to do something more then hangout on Oak Bluffs- spending enough money this summer - to keep the Banner going for a few more issues. The Banner is read by most June 19ers and over the hill groups. Home owners and renters here and on the Vinyard. Please |
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| Jul 21 18:12pm by miss you [24.5.47.75] | |
No longer a MA resident, I just checked in to see if the Banner had covered the Gates arrest. When I lived there, I looked forward to your paper every week. It covered really interesting stories and angles I couldn't get from mainstream media. So I saw "July 9," thought, "Why isn't there a July 16th?" and then...oh. Oh, no. So sad to see the suspension of publication notice. Thanks for all your hard work, and good luck. |
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| Jul 11 19:47pm by Cape Cod Red [68.49.16.138] | |
I grew up in the 'burbs of Mass. where the only other people of color were my relatives. My only connection to the AA community was through WILD and the Banner. This is very sad. |
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| Jul 10 18:30pm by Zunilda Roman [141.154.105.18] | |
I slightly annoyed on Thursday morning, I was on my way to work when I noticed the banner box was gone. I thought the people in this area have got to stop complaining about the most petty things. I had assumed the box was removed because the community requested it. WheI got to Forest Hills Banner box, but no papers. Now I am flustered! I am a Housing Advocate and my Thursday morning ritual is to see the adds for affordable housing on route to work. At work I would cut, copy and distribute to the clients at the shelter. Now I am Off Kilter and I look on line only to see the Paper is no more. I want to thank the Banner for helping me help others. I will miss the bannner not only for the resources but because it was a a good, informative paper with not too much added flare or useless gossip. It kept the community abreast of impotant happenings. It was one of the few places a young Black or Latino youth could read about the achievements of our youth. They need all the positive reinforments that out there. AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. |
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| Jul 9 22:38pm by Chris Davis, New Haven, CT. [71.192.167.252] | |
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Wow. Only a handful of our people read the Banner online???? Simply amazing. <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> One of the reasons why I left Boston is because of the lack of "culture" within OUR own communities. From our political figures being attacked in the local media to the dismantlement of WILD/Banner…what else could go wrong???
Gentrification? Look at whose walking around down Dudley nowadays.
I love Boston but I wouldn’t want my future children living in this god forsaken place….. |
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| Jul 9 18:19pm by Ginnette [76.23.158.66] | |
The Bay State Banner has been a part of my life for a long time, and like Chris said first WILD and now this? There has to be something that we can do to bring back this publication that is so important to the urban community! |
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| Jul 9 15:01pm by sandra | |
Shayla, The Banner will keep the website up, but there will be very limited new articles updated given that our editorial staff has been layed off. The events calendar will have new listings, but the articles will be very limited while we are shut down. We have been working hard on finding a financial solution to our problems so that the Banner can return - but until that happens, and unless that happens, the website will be limited. Don't give up on us! - sandra |
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| Jul 9 13:16pm by Victoria [64.212.90.254] | |
I look forward to reading the 'Banner' every week. It is a vital part of the community, there is no other like it!! As a reader, this paper is the only one worth reading about my community. I, would gladly pay to read this weekly newspaper. What is happening to our culture? We take pride in the 'Banner' and its diversity about life, events and news worthy articles. This is our voice!! Now we no longer have one. What a sad time this is!!! |
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| Jul 9 13:01pm by Shayla, Roxbury, MA [192.138.214.100] | |
Will there still be some type of online version of The Banner? |
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| Jul 9 10:19am by Chris Davis, New Haven, CT. [198.160.14.62] | |
Something must be done!!!!! First, it was WILD- now this????!!!! |
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