Atlanta Daily World, city's oldest black-owned newspaper, sold to Detroit media company
Busy few weeks for historic, family-owned publication
It's been a busy few weeks for the Atlanta Daily World, the city's oldest black-owned newspaper.
First, the paper's found itself in the middle of a skirmish with local preservationists over its plan to sell and partially demolish the 84-year-old newspaper's former Sweet Auburn building, which it vacated after the 2008 tornado caused extensive damage. Atlanta-based infill developer Integral Group plans to convert the property and an adjoining parcel into a 91-unit apartment development that'd be along the downtown streetcar route.
Now we're learning that the weekly paper's been bought by Real Times Media, a multimedia company based in Detroit. The firm, which owns historic black newspapers such as the Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle, the Michigan FrontPage, the New Pittsburgh Courier, and Memphis' Tri-State Defender, will take over all operations this month. Publisher Alexis Scott, the granddaughter of the paper's founder and frequent "Georgia Gang" panelist, will stay in her executive role under the new ownership.
“The Atlanta Daily World is excited to become a part of Real Times,” Alexis Scott said. “This is truly a new beginning for the paper. The resources that are now available will enable us to diversify into a multi-media platform.”
In the early 1930s, the company published newspapers in other cities and was considered one of the largest black-owned businesses in the country. Its rich history is worth a read.