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The Weekly Challenger:

The Weekly Challenger is an African American owned newspaper that has been around for over 50 years. They are based out of Pinellas County and commit to bringing the community news that the bigger news papers do not cover. The Weekly Challenger has had a huge impact on bringing the community news about the African American community, as well as news the main newspapers don’t cover. Many people feel this news is more interesting and more relevant to personal life. It keeps the community together and keeps everyone on the same page.

History:

“The Weekly Challenger is an African-American family owned newspaper in print since 1967. Mainly serving Pinellas County, Fla., it has thrived as a folksy paper that publishes news that the larger daily papers ignore.

The late publisher Cleveland Johnson, a native of Thomasville, Ga., started working as a salesman in the early 1950s for the Weekly Advertiser owned by M.C. Fountain. After years of working under Fountain, Johnson acquired the business in 1967, changed the name and rebranded it as a weekly newspaper catering to African-American news in the Tampa Bay area.

During the first two decades of ownership, Johnson expanded the paper from just a few pages to 32, eight of them in color, seven with full-page advertisements. The paper closely followed events related to school desegregation, and kept up with national corporations, noting which ones would hire black employees. When Johnson died in 2001 at the age of 73, obituaries were published in newspapers as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii.

After his death his widow, Ethel Johnson, stepped in as publisher. Now, more than a decade later, The Weekly Challenger is still the voice of the black community in Pinellas County, and after a cavalcade of general managers, Johnson’s youngest daughter, Lyn Johnson, has taken over as publisher.

Since her short time at the helm, becoming manager in February of 2012, Johnson has brought readership up by focusing strictly on community news, adding national news only to the website.

“If you want national news, turn on your computer or television,” said Johnson, “but if you want to read news about what’s going on outside your front door, then pick up a Challenger.”

Since the more aesthetic redesign, which took effect in September of 2012, Johnson continues her plan to bring the Challenger into the 21st century. She aims to strengthen its online presence by adding more interactive features to the newly designed website and introducing video news clips.

“I hope to continue the legacy my father built for years to come and to ensure that the voice of the local African-American community is not stifled.” (theweeklychallenger.com).

Significant Articles From The Weekly Challenger:

I am Norman E. Jones, Sr. By Gwen Reece:

This article was about how Norman E. Jones had a unique perspective during the civil rights movement. His views were very unique during the civil rights movement, but are now seen on display in many communities.

A Call For Unity, By Dr Murray and Pastor Mt. Zion

This article is about the day after an election in St. Petersburg. It was for the Mayor of St. Petersburg. The article talks about how relationships were destroyed and families torn apart because of the election. It goes on to talk about how the city needs to come together and look at weaknesses within the city. It also discusses how the people of the city need to look within, instead of blaming others for problems in St Petersburg.

Timeline:

May 1967: The St. Petersburg Times ends publication of the so-called “Negro news page”

September 1967: M.C. Fountain started The Weekly Challenge

Late 1967: Cleveland Johnson, acquired the paper, & re-branded the paper as The Weekly Challenger (TWC)

1970s-1990s: TWC expanded, growing to a 32-page newspaper with color printing

July 2001: Mr. Johnson (73) passed away. His widow, Ethel, assumed leadership as the newspaper's publisher

2011-2012: Notable leaders within the African American community sought ways to preserve TWC

Feb 2012: Lyn Johnson, takes over as the newspaper’s publisher

March 2013: Lyn Johnson signed a deed of gift, transferring TWC archive to the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library (NPML)

Fall 2014: NPML & USFSP created the first legislative budget request (LBR) proposal but funding was not received

Summer 2015: Revisions to the original LBR were made for filing in the 2016 general session

March 2016: $300,000 was approved to support TWC digital archive project

July 2016: Funding for TWC project begins

September 2016: Collection Specialist starts on Sept. 26th, & begins working on TWC preservation project

November 4th 2016: Open-house event celebrating the TWC Initiative

March 2017: Digitization of TWC newspapers commences

October 27, 2017: TWC 50th Anniversary Celebration

March 9th, 2018: The digitization of TWC from 1973 - 2008 was completed

External Notes: