For nearly 90 years, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) has been recognized as a trusted voice for the Black communities of Minnesota. Founder and civil rights activist, Cecil Newman, arrived in Minneapolis in 1934, starting not one, but two newspapers to cover human interest stories from a Black perspective in and around the Twin Cities. Years later, the paper merged when third generation publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard successfully steered her grandfather’s business into the digital era. While revenues are currently outpacing industry norms, Tracey’s goal of appealing to younger subscribers is falling short.
