Central Arkansas Press

Today, the role of the Black press isn’t so easily defined, as the needs of the community have expanded and mainstream media has become more inclusive.

Still, we believe there is room on the media landscape for any number of media enterprises catering to Black people; if there can be magazines for craft beer brewers and urban chicken farmers, then there can be a newspaper for Black people who live in central Arkansas. And not for nothing, we feel the same way about other ethnic groups having their own media products such as Hola! Arkansas and the ARKANSAS TIMES publishing El Latino to address the issues and concerns of the Hispanic community.

Not everyone shares our opinions in today’s difficult economy. Some might vehemently side with the idea that a separate Black press is no longer a "necessity." However, UMG believes it is vital and critical to have a specific outlet for the Black community. The mainstream media is still very separate and there are not a lot of opportunities [for Black people] to speak, be heard, find employment or share in media ownership.

The pathologies and the exceptions are covered well in the mainstream media, but everyday Black people are still marginalized. We still need [the Black press] to present Black people as normal.

In order for the Black media to truly compete with mainstream media outlets, ownership is key. It takes money to have the ability to tell your own story. And until we create more economic freedom, it’s going to be very difficult to change the media landscape.

We are thoroughly convinced that Black media outlets are not only beneficial but crucial. The existing mainstream media still doesn't hire or can’t seem to find enough editors, reporters, writers, producers or on-air talent of color to truthfully and artfully tell the Black experience.

Still, we don’t want the Black press to simply be the antidote to a racist mainstream media. UMG wants to elevate journalism reflecting an organic expression of Black stories being told, Black artistic expression being celebrated, and issues that are important to Black people being examined and scrutinized, independent of the way mainstream media addresses those same concerns. In other words, a vibrant Black media and a more inclusive mainstream media should both be available to the public.

The two ideals are not mutually exclusive, nor should the failure of one be the raison d’etre of the other. Separate? Yes. Different? Sure. But absolutely equal.