DAILY NEGRO NEWSPAPERS
[Sidenote: FIRST DAILY CAIRO GAZETTE]
The first attempt of the Negro journalist to publish a daily newspaper
was _The Cairo_ (Ill.) _Gazette_, which was first issued April 23, 1882.
The editor was W. S. Scott. The paper was issued regularly for six
months when the plant was destroyed by fire. It was a readable sheet,
contained much original matter, and had a good force of reporters.
[Sidenote: COLUMBUS MESSENGER]
The next attempt was _The Columbus Messenger_, published at Columbus. Ga.
It was first issued as a daily in 1888. It was edited by B. T. Harvey, a
graduate of Tuskegee Institute. The sheet was 12 by 20 inches.
[Sidenote: DAILIES ISSUED FOR SHORT PERIODS]
Several newspapers have issued daily editions for short periods. _The
Knoxville_ (Tenn.) _Negro World_ was issued daily as an advertising
medium for two weeks. About 1890 _The Public Ledger_ of Baltimore, Md.,
was issued daily by Wesley Adams, for a short period. _The Nashville
Globe_ published a daily during the $30,000 Y. M. C. A. campaign in
Nashville, Tenn., June 1-12, 1913. It proved a tremendous success for the
twelve days and had an average circulation of 5,000 per day. During the
World War _The Herald_ of Baltimore, Md., edited by W. T. Andrews, was
issued daily.
[Sidenote: DAILIES IN FORM OF “BROADSIDES”]
Three daily papers are being published at present. Two of these, _The
Richmond_ (Va.) _Colored American_ and _The Washington Colored American_
are published by the American Publicity Bureau, Inc. and The National
Negro Publicity Bureau, Inc., respectively with D. Eugene Taylor listed
as general manager of both. In form these papers are “broadsides”—a
bulletin type of sheet printed on only one side. They are printed on a
sheet measuring 24 inches by 36 inches. The news is set in two double
columns, running down the center of the page between a double column of
advertising on each side.
[Sidenote: DAILY STANDARD]
The third paper is _The Indianapolis Daily Standard_ which began
publication the latter part of April, 1922, under the editorship of C. C.
Shelby. It is a 7 column, 4-page paper and retails at 2 cents per copy.
[Sidenote: DRAWBACKS TO NEGRO DAILY]
The slow development of the Negro daily is due chiefly to the fact: (1)
That the field of such papers is already covered to a large extent by
the American daily press; and (2) That a daily paper, with a restricted
field from which to gather news, and denied the service of the Associated
Press, is well nigh impossible. With the further development of the
Associated Negro Press more Negro dailies may be possible.