Brings home 5th coveted Russwurm Award from Chicago meeting
Of the St. Louis American
The St. Louis American got its “one for the thumb” by winning its 5th John B. Russwurm Award in Chicago last Friday during the National Newspaper Publishers Association Merit Awards celebration. The Russwurm is awarded to the NNPA-member newspaper that receives the most points in all Merit Awards categories.
The American took home three first-place plaques for Best Sports Section, Best Use of Photographs for Broadsheet, and General Excellence. The American had nine nominations.
Another frequent winner of the Russwurm, the Philadelphia Tribune, was nominated 11 times and won first place in three categories, including Best Special Edition, Best Circulation Promotion and Best Youth Section.
The American won five second-place awards in the respective categories of Best News Pictures, Best Entertainment Section, Best Original Advertising, Best Special Edition and Best Business Section.
The newspaper, which has won five Russwurm Awards in 10 years, also posted a third-place finish in the Best Circulation Promotion category.
“The American that won the Russwurm this year is a better newspaper than the American that won in 1996,” Publisher Donald M. Suggs said.
“This is a tremendous honor. We are very proud and gratified to be able to compete against excellent newspapers, including the Philadelphia Tribune and Richmond (Va.) Free Press.”
In other conference highlights:
Bishop T. D. Jakes, the internationally acclaimed television preacher, and the NNPA announced a partnership designed to strengthen both the Black Press and black churches.
“Today is the beginning of reconciliation between the black church and the Black Press. Not to say that we ever fell out, but, like many marriages, you don’t have to fall out to grow apart,” said Jakes during a meeting with NNPA board members at the organization’s 65th anniversary summer conference.
“The reality is that we live in a nation as African Americans. We cannot get a GED without understanding white culture, but they can get a Ph.D. and not understand us. And, because we live in that environment, they can be well-educated, well-informed, on the cutting edge, read the Wall Street Journal every day, and not have a clue as to how to tap into our market base,” Jakes continued.
Jakes said that black churches and publishers need “to say to our sources or to our sponsors that we not only represent 1.5 million on our mailing list and 30,000 members in our church, but we have a relationship with 200 black newspapers who are serving this number of people [15 million], and let’s negotiate and advertise collectively,”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson urged black publishers to maintain their dignity and stick to their mission during the 65th Anniversary luncheon on Saturday.
“I want to work more closely on getting more advertising money for black papers that will protect the integrity of the paper, because all advertising money isn’t good money,” Jackson said.
“Black papers aren’t known for being big, lucrative businesses. They are known for being a voice. This is not about the size of the paper – hold on to the distinction,” Jackson continued.
“Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., you are on a counter-culture mission. I’m concerned about the way the right-wing government is moving in on the papers, churches and organizations. We need a free Black Press and free black pulpits. Don’t let money and manipulation stir you away from your mission.”
This year’s award ceremonies were held at the Harold Washington Cultural Center on Chicago’s South Side. The structure sits in the heart of the historic, but over the years declining 47th and Martin Luther King business district, which is experiencing revitalization. Envisioned and nurtured by African-American elected officials, the project was built by black contractors. It has become a pride and joy for Chicago’s South Side African-American residents.
Several papers received sought-after A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards. The awards, initiated by Miller Brewing Company 15 years ago, are a staple for NNPA. It represents the best and the brightest in journalism for “papers that play a role that mainstream media can’t play.”
Miller Brewing Company executive Larry Waters thanked publishers and editors for “reporting that is dynamic, inspiration and educational,” and promoting “honesty, sincerity and integrity,” before giving out the awards for the night.
Among the four award recipients were The Chicago Defender, Best Education Editorial; The Philadelphia Tribune, Best Education News Story; The Richmond Free Press, Best Civil Rights News Story; and The Baltimore Afro-American, Best Civil Rights Editorial.
– Additional reporting provided by the NNPA.
