History and journalism have more in common than one might think. Just ask Lucas Hudson. To him the two are like “kissing cousins.”
The 33-year-old former historian has recently been tapped as the new editor of Vital Voice, an independently owned, progressive newspaper for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.
He is the publication’s first black editor.
“LGBT is still important and needs to be heard in the black community, because ultimately homophobia can be and has been a death sentence to many members of the African-American community,” Hudson said.
Hudson, a St. Louis native, received his degree in history from Georgetown University in 2001.
He went on to attend Purdue University for graduate school, but left in 2002. He then took a job as an office secretary for Yaphett El-Amin’s first political campaign.
From there, he worked in the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Unit at the St. Louis City Health Department. That’s when he decided to try his hand in journalism.
Hudson started in the field as columnist and nightlife/cultural editor of the Arch City Chronicle, where he gained local recognition as a writer before the publication folded its print version and moved online in 2007.
After that, Hudson started working as a freelance columnist for Vital Voice and eventually was hired as editor.
“When I set out to look for someone who I wanted as an editor, Lucas was the first person that came to me,” said Vital Voice’s publisher Pam Schneider. “I liked his style of writing. It was interesting, thought-provoking and not boring.”
Hudson has taken his new editing gig in stride.
By revamping the technology, entertainment, pet and interior decorating sections of the newspaper, Hudson has helped turn Vital Voice into a more informative and inclusive publication. He said the newspaper is adding more news, mostly on politics, to pull in people from different sectors.
“In order for the paper to stabilize and grow, we had to expand to a wider audience in St. Louis City and County,” Hudson said. “And while the LGBT crowd will always be our core audience, we have expanded content that relates to St. Louis in general.”
Vital Voice made its debut in June 2002, six years after Schneider bought St. Louis Network, which at the time owned the Pride Pages. Schneider said she wanted a diverse, progressive and spirited newspaper that gave voice to the lesbian and gay community.
“My mission was to educate and demystify a community,” Schneider said. “I vowed not to take sex ads. Everything we do will be presented in a very balanced way.”
The semi-monthly publication circulates about 30,000 copies a month and is staffed by a stable of writers and contributors.
“The main challenge is being a smaller newspaper and resisting the temptation of becoming a magazine. You have to cover news as well,” Hudson said.
When he is not in a suit and tie, Hudson said he loves munching on Smoki-O’s barbeque and listening to his digital collection of 1970s soul music.
He said although he is working as a newspaper editor, he will never turn his back on his love for history.
“History and journalism are so intimately intertwined. To me, they’re like kissing cousins,” Hudson said. “You really can’t be good at one without knowing the other.”
Hudson resides in St. Louis. His mother, Annette Hudson; sister, Marlissa Hudson; and nephew, Hudson Eaton, also live here. His father, William Hudson Jr., is deceased.
Contact Vital Voice at 314-289-9666 or www.thevitalvoice.com. The office is located at 4337 Manchester Ave.
