Fran Farrer is not just the publisher of the County News in Charlotte. She is a student of the Black Press.

The 2nd Vice-Chair of the all-Black woman Executive Committee of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Farrer has always known the history, resilience, and vitality of the Black Press of America.

Farrer’s efforts and those of her colleagues on the Executive Committee are primary reasons that the Black Press remains the trusted voice inside and outside the communities they serve.

She said it is the transformative vision of NNPA leaders that catapult Black-owned newspapers and media companies in the NNPA family.
“The Black Press matters today for the same reason it did when Samuel Cornish and John Brown Russwurm founded ‘Freedoms Journal,’ in 1827,” Farrer proclaimed.

“So that Black people, formerly called Colored and Negros could tell their own story. Articles in White-owned newspapers when relative to bad or destructive behavior was always painted as the fault of people of color when White people indeed caused it but covered up and painted as Black crimes,” she declared.

Farrer added that individuals spread lies across townships that caused death by hanging people of color when accused of raping White women.

At the same time, White men raped Black women seemingly with impunity, sometimes impregnating them and denying them the choice of giving birth to the child.

As the NNPA prepares for its annual summer convention, Farrer reflected on this year’s theme: “Black Press Matters: Trusted Voice, Resilient Vitality, Transformative Vision.”

Registration for the virtual convention is free. It runs from June 23 to June 26. Farrer said the more than 230 newspapers and media companies in the NNPA, the trade association representing the Black Press of America, have always lived up to the conference theme by publishing truth to power and holding elected officials and others accountable.

“Today, if Black newspapers did not publish wrongdoings of elected officials and that of police officers, people of color would never receive justice,” Farrer decided.

“Police officers abuse, rape, and kill Black males and females and say they were entitled to do it. If it were not for Black newspapers, the truth would never be told. And today, we still have miles to go before we sleep, but it is getting better to where we can at least take a nap. Our communities know that the Black press will search and research until the truth be told.”

Farrer said past sins against Black people and the Black Press strengthens her resolve to carry on the mission of Russwurm and Cornish.
“Knowing what our forefathers went through to get us to where we are today in our search for true justice makes the dedicated publishers of Black newspapers resilient,” Farrer stated.

“If you will notice, most successful radio and television stations will always refer the public to their newspaper partners for the full story, and when it is relative to the Black community, 95 percent of the time it is a Black-owned newspaper.”

As the world has moved swiftly into the digital realm where rumors are reported as factual and fake news permeates broadcasts, Farrer said the Black Press “knows when to hold and when to fold.”

“In other words, we will not leak the story until the story is real and accurate,” she said.

Further, Farrer noted that 75 percent of NNPA newspaper publisher members had won awards in their coverage areas for delivering positive news and promote advocacy across all disciplines.

As the convention nears and publishers decide on whom to elect to lead the NNPA forward, Farrer said she is confident that her peers are thrilled with the work of the current Executive Committee.

“I am proud to serve as NNPA 2nd Vice-Chair with an Executive Team that has worked together for successes even during the devastating time of COVID-19,” Farrer offered.

“We have a team that may differ in first opinions but will always work to come to a decision that best fits our organization with all publishers in mind. When many businesses and associations, from mom-and-pops to corporate level pioneers, have struggled and even closed their doors, our team has worked to gain new partners.

“We have added new business to many of our publishers and sponsored all events with class and sophistication.

“Our team is one worth keeping.”