Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with John Stevens, 1971.Biographical NoteThe holder of a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, John Stevens taught journalism at the University of Michigan for thirty years. He authored books and scholarly articles dealing with the misrepresentation of African Americans in the mainstream press. His journalism experience included work for the Star in Terre Haute, Indiana, and freelance work for numerous publications. In 1988-1989, he was a Freedom Forum Fellow in New York. He died in 2005.
Scope and ContentsHenry La Brie's 1971 interview with John Stevens begins with a discussion about the need for a national black newspaper. Next, La Brie asks Stevens what sources and research methodologies he uses in his writing. They discuss cartoons in black newspapers and the specific failures and successes of the black press. La Brie asks about the social role of the black press, Stevens' predictions for the future of the black press, and why the black press had been established. He and Stevens discuss if black press was becoming more representative in its coverage of minority affairs at the time of the interview. La Brie and Stevens discuss what distinguishes the black press from its white counterpart. The interview moves to white readership of black newspapers. Stevens explains how black newspapers' identity gives them a niche in the media market. La Brie asks about the unique challenges facing the black press and its impact on society. The interview concludes with La Brie asking if the black press supplements or substitutes the black reader's news diet.
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