WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Washington Informer, an award-winning newspaper, founded on the principles of storied newspaper publishers, Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwarm to inform its readers about events that directly affect the African-American community has reached yet another milestone in its history.
Founded by the late civil rights activist, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark on October 16, 1964, to inform District residents about salient issues that pertained to the Black community, the paper also sought to instill a sense of pride and camaraderie among readers. The Washington Informer, an institution in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, celebrates its 45th anniversary this month and continues to provide comprehensive news coverage with a distinct perspective.
Today, Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes charts the direction of the publication using the same philosophy learned by her father’s side: give voice to the voiceless, uplift and educate the Black community.
“My father had the vision to start The Washington Informer early in his career. With the support, both financial and inspirational, from his wife, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, he established an institution that I hope will stand the test of time for generations to come,” Barnes said.
“This anniversary is the Washington Informer Newspaper Company’s opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our readers and advertisers who have supported us over the past 45 years. Without them and the contributions they make to our community, there would be nothing for the Informer to report,” she said
Barnes has also moved the paper into the 21st century by including an online presence. The Washington Informer currently enjoys 25,000 unique visitors to its web site on a weekly basis.
“While this anniversary gives us an opportunity to see from where we have come…and how we have come through, it also forces us to look towards the future. Our presence online has allowed us to become a global publication, reaching readers all over the world. And, with that comes a greater ability to tell the untold story or address the distorted perceptions about Africans or people of color throughout the Diaspora,” Barnes said.
In the spirit of community, one of tenets on which the paper was founded, the Washington Informer sponsors the D.C. City-Wide Spelling Bee in which nearly 3,000 students participate annually. The paper also provides an opportunity for students to develop journalistic skills through its sponsorship of the Birney-Savoy Informer, a monthly supplement included in the paper and penned by students who attend Birney-Savoy Elementary School in Southeast, Washington, D.C.
Since 1969, the Washington Informer has maintained memberships with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the oldest trade association of African-American owned newspapers in the country and the Newspaper Association of America.
“This is also my chance to say thank you to the Informer staff – the men, women, and sometimes children – who have dedicated their time to writing the stories and photographing the events in a highly professional manner in order to produce a newspaper of excellence.”
Founded by the late civil rights activist, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark on October 16, 1964, to inform District residents about salient issues that pertained to the Black community, the paper also sought to instill a sense of pride and camaraderie among readers. The Washington Informer, an institution in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, celebrates its 45th anniversary this month and continues to provide comprehensive news coverage with a distinct perspective.
Today, Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes charts the direction of the publication using the same philosophy learned by her father’s side: give voice to the voiceless, uplift and educate the Black community.
“My father had the vision to start The Washington Informer early in his career. With the support, both financial and inspirational, from his wife, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, he established an institution that I hope will stand the test of time for generations to come,” Barnes said.
“This anniversary is the Washington Informer Newspaper Company’s opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our readers and advertisers who have supported us over the past 45 years. Without them and the contributions they make to our community, there would be nothing for the Informer to report,” she said
Barnes has also moved the paper into the 21st century by including an online presence. The Washington Informer currently enjoys 25,000 unique visitors to its web site on a weekly basis.
“While this anniversary gives us an opportunity to see from where we have come…and how we have come through, it also forces us to look towards the future. Our presence online has allowed us to become a global publication, reaching readers all over the world. And, with that comes a greater ability to tell the untold story or address the distorted perceptions about Africans or people of color throughout the Diaspora,” Barnes said.
In the spirit of community, one of tenets on which the paper was founded, the Washington Informer sponsors the D.C. City-Wide Spelling Bee in which nearly 3,000 students participate annually. The paper also provides an opportunity for students to develop journalistic skills through its sponsorship of the Birney-Savoy Informer, a monthly supplement included in the paper and penned by students who attend Birney-Savoy Elementary School in Southeast, Washington, D.C.
Since 1969, the Washington Informer has maintained memberships with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the oldest trade association of African-American owned newspapers in the country and the Newspaper Association of America.
“This is also my chance to say thank you to the Informer staff – the men, women, and sometimes children – who have dedicated their time to writing the stories and photographing the events in a highly professional manner in order to produce a newspaper of excellence.”
