CHAPTER VIIDAILY NEGRO NEWSPAPERS
First Daily Cairo Gazette
The first attempt of the Negro journalist to publish a daily newspaper wasThe Cairo(Ill.)Gazette, which was first issued April 23, 1882. The editor was W. S. Scott. The paper was issued regularlyfor six months when the plant was destroyed by fire. It was a readable sheet, contained much original matter, and had a good force of reporters.
Columbus Messenger
The next attempt wasThe Columbus Messenger, published at Columbus. Ga. It was first issued as a daily in 1888. It was edited by B. T. Harvey, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute. The sheet was 12 by 20 inches.
Dailies Issued for Short Periods
Several newspapers have issued daily editions for short periods.The Knoxville(Tenn.)Negro Worldwas issued daily as an advertising medium for two weeks. About 1890The Public Ledgerof Baltimore, Md., was issued daily by Wesley Adams, for a short period.The Nashville Globepublished a daily during the $30,000 Y. M. C. A. campaign in Nashville, Tenn., June 1-12, 1913. It proved a tremendous success for the twelve days and had an average circulation of 5,000 per day. During the World WarThe Heraldof Baltimore, Md., edited by W. T. Andrews, was issued daily.
Dailies in Form of “Broadsides”
Three daily papers are being published at present. Two of these,The Richmond(Va.)Colored AmericanandThe Washington Colored Americanare published by the American Publicity Bureau, Inc. and The National Negro Publicity Bureau, Inc., respectively with D. Eugene Taylor listed as general manager of both. In form these papers are “broadsides”—a bulletin type of sheet printed on only one side. They are printed on a sheet measuring 24 inches by 36 inches. The news is set in two double columns, running down the center of the page between a double column of advertising on each side.
Daily Standard
The third paper isThe Indianapolis Daily Standardwhich began publication the latter part of April, 1922, under the editorship of C. C. Shelby. It is a 7 column, 4-page paper and retails at 2 cents per copy.
Drawbacks to Negro Daily
The slow development of the Negro daily is due chiefly to the fact: (1) That the field of such papers is already covered to a large extent by the American daily press; and (2) That a daily paper, with a restricted field from which to gather news, and denied the service of the Associated Press, is well nigh impossible. With the further development of the Associated Negro Press more Negro dailies may be possible.