by Kalin Thomas
ATLANTA (NNPA)—A sluggish economy, changes in the newspaper industry and a desire for added resources to transition into new media spawned the sale of the Atlanta Daily World to two shareholders of a Detroit-based publishing group, the paper’s publisher said last week.
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| MEDIA PANEL—Atlanta Daily World publisher Alexis Scott (right) speaks with moderator Consdace Pressley of WSB Radio last weekend during a Black Women in Media panel sponsored by the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists. (Photo by Kalin Thomas)
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Alexis Scott, granddaughter of the newspaper’s founder, said Daily World executives were intrigued by the idea of joining forces with a national concern that could help the paper get to the next level.
“We wanted to be a part of a larger group after looking at the changes in our industry and the economy, and its impact on our business,” Scott said in a telephone interview. “I think it will give us the added resources we need to diversify into multimedia, which we couldn’t do on our own.”
“The industry in general is struggling to find its way in this day of social media,” she added. “It’s not just Black newspapers, but all newspapers.”
Under the agreement, two shareholders of a Detroit-based publishing group called Real Times Media bought the Atlanta paper for undisclosed price. Real Times Media, which separately owns Black newspapers in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Memphis—will run the Atlanta paper under a strategic alliance announced last week.
Full terms of the alliance were not announced.
Under the strategic alliance, several Real Times Media owners will assume operational responsibility for the newspaper this month, taking it out of family ownership for the first time in its 84-year history.
“[We are] delighted to enter into this strategic alliance with the Atlanta Daily World… one of the most storied and legendary newspaper franchises in America,” Real Times Media CEO Hiram E. Jackson said in a statement.
“We believe that building a strong multimedia presence in Atlanta is key to the continued growth of our company,” he added.
Under the agreement, Scott will remain as publisher of the East Point-headquartered newspaper but as an employee, not an owner.
Founded in 1928 by William A. Scott II, the Atlanta Daily World publishes once a week in print and daily online. It was run from 1934 until 1997 by C.A. Scott, the founder’s brother.
Alexis Scott commented on the sale at a Black Women in Media panel last weekend, sponsored by the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists: “The days of the mom and pop shops are over…I hope that now the paper can go another 84 years and beyond.”
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