May 3, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
R.I.P
Vol. 25, Issue 15
HON. ALBERT ELY EDWARDS
By: N.L. Preston
BlacK Press anD coViD-19
By: N.L. Preston
HOUSTON - It is commonly said that journalists work on passion; working around the clock as the truth tellers bringing you the daily updates during the floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, battlefields of war and, as with today, health crises. And oftentimes, these dedicated journalists are putting themselves in the elements and on the front lines for little or no money - and more often these days, for free. Why? Because the economic downfall due to the coronavirus has had an even greater impact on the already diminishing print news industry. And when it comes to minority publications, things are even more brutal. “The black press is needed more now than ever to educate the black community, which has been totally miseducated
“Together, we can face anything. We will not shut down.”
since integration,” said African-American News&Issues publisher Roy Douglas Malonson. “We will continue to stick to our mission, to address the current and historical needs affecting our community.” An estimated 1,800 newspapers closed between 2004 and 2018 after the number of people buying print editions dropped, and now during the pandemic, it appears most small publications - especially minority-based ones - will be phased out altogether. “An extinction-level event will probably hit the smaller ones really hard, as well as the ones that are part of the huge
chains,” said Penny Abernathy, the Knight chair in journalism and digital media economics at the University of North Carolina. In 2018, Abernathy released a study citing that 1,300 US communities have completely lost news coverage, thus creating “news deserts” – where local information and scrutiny of elected officials is non-existent. That is not our business model. Without fear or favor, AANI vows to keep circulating our printed newspapers, servicing the needs of our most vulnerable community members - those who do not have access to the internet and digital media. We will not only continue to bring the coverage needed to aide in the fight against the pandemic, we will still call on and call out our city, state and congressional leaders, etc. when necessary. “We are bold and unapologetic in our news coverage. Because of our growth and distribution when we first started, Sylvester Turner was all over us to get exposure, now that he is mayor, he is leaning toward the other papers he feels has more glamour,” Malonson said. “While I respect how is he is leading this great city of ours during the COVID-19 crisis, I have taken issue with some of the community initiatives he’s launched. Despite it all, this paper will keep its fingers on the pulse of the community and tell readers what they need to know.” Several Houston media outlets, specifically those servicing the Black community like the Houston Defender and Forward Times, have launched campaigns asking for either public donations and/or deciding to use only the online versions of their publications, offering no print editions due Cont’d on page 2
HOUSTON — Hon. Albert Ely Edwards, the former state representative who introduced the bill that helped make Juneteenth a state holiday, has died. He was 83. The former Democratic legislator served south Houston’s House District 146 from 1979 to 2007, and again from 2009 to 2011. As noted on Historymakers.org, Edwards was born in Houston on March 19, 1937. He was the sixth out of sixteen children born to Reverend E. L. Edwards, Sr. and Josephine Radford Edwards. He graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School and attended Texas Southern University, earning his B.A. degree in 1966. At the age of 41, Edwards entered politics and was elected to the Texas State Legislature from Houston’s House District 146. His first major goal was to ensure the establishment of a holiday that recognized the emancipation of slavery. In 1979, legislation recognizing Juneteenth Day passed the Texas State Legislature and was signed into law. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday in 14 states of the United States. Celebrated on June 19th, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. While serving in the legislature, Edwards also founded his own real estate company. Though deeply involved with local issues, Edwards re mained active in many issues outside the Texas State Legislature. In 1983, Edwards was appointed as a member of the board of Operation PUSH. Edwards also served as the Texas State Director of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. In 1986, Edwards also founded Operation Justus, a community faith-based organization that serves as a referral service for persons with social problems and concerns. Edwards was also arrested in Houston and went to jail for peacefully demonstrating against apartheid in South Africa in 1987. Edwards left the Texas legislature in 2007 after 28 years of serving the people of District 146. As a veteran member of the Texas Legislature, Edwards served on three influential committees. He was the Chairman of the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Chairman of Budget and Oversight of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee.
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY • AVOID PUBLIC SPACES OR EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 10 PATRONS • SANITIZE AND STOCK UP • AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH • PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE