Bay State Banner

Now why would the Bay State Banner support a bank in its fight with a Roxbury church?

adamg — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:36:05 +0000

The Dig reports Banner Publisher Mel Miller sits on the board of directors of OneUnited Bank, a fact the paper failed to note in an editorial charging supporters of the church would set back civil rights in the US if they succeed in winning a new repayment plan for its mortgage.

Ever want to be a newspaper publisher?

adamg — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:39:56 +0000

Mel Miller stepping down from day-to-day operations at the Bay State Banner? The Banner is looking for a publisher (free registration required to see ad). Online experience a must.

Bay State Banner publisher gets testy when asked why he didn't endorse anybody for mayor

adamg — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:55:08 +0000

Mel Miller says only fools would question his decision not to endorse, in reply to a question from Adam Reilly about the impression it had anything to do with that $200,000 loan Tom Menino got for him.

Ethnic Media and healthy communities

presspass — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:47:43 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eI0ayglwZY&feature=channel_page
In the wake of the potential closing of the Bay State Banner Press Pass TV talks to Boston community members and media makers about the vital role that Ethnic and community media plays in creating a healthy community.

Bay State Banner gets its loan

adamg — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:55:24 +0000

Bruce Mohl reports the BRA-controlled Boston Local Development Corp. agreed today to give Banner owner Mel Miller a $200,000, two-year loan - at 9% interest. Mohl provides some details of Banner finances and dishes how Tom Menino agreed to give the Banner a loan without ever actually consulting anybody on the non-profit corporation's board.

BRA loan to Bay State Banner: Hush money?

adamg — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:11:42 +0000

The Globe reports Tom Menino's decided to have the city loan up to $200,000 to investors in the Bay State Banner to help keep the paper going.

The money would come from a fund managed by the BRA. In April, the Banner called for Menino to resign because of the way the BRA was handling redevelopment of a parcel across from Boston Police headquarters - and said "no self-respecting African-American" could vote for him. However, Menino denied using city money to help prop up the Banner was an attempt to stifle criticism:

I will step up any time and help any business in this city. I'm trying to help a business survive. Tell me if that's wrong.

Investors to keep Bay State Banner going

adamg — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:31:58 +0000

The Globe reports that Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree has rounded up 12 individuals and groups to put up enough money to keep the paper going. He didn't name them.

Harvard Law prof to rescue Bay State Banner?

adamg — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:29:47 +0000

Adam Reilly reports on efforts by Charles Ogletree to revive the now defunct Bay State Banner.

Bay State Banner isn't looking to the Web for salvation

adamg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:22:37 +0000

When some newspapers fold up, they try to rebuild on the Web. Don't count on the Bay State Banner, which announced yesterday it's folding up as it tries to find new investors, to do the same. Read the comments last month from Sandra Casagrand, the paper's vice president of marketing, in a discussion on the future of freelancing. Casagrand basically says young people and advertisers made their Internet bed and now they'll have to lie in it.

Bay State Banner suspends publication

adamg — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:16:14 +0000

The Banner, which serves Boston's black community, announced today it is suspending operations. Publisher Mel Miller's statement:

After careful consideration the Bay State Banner has decided to suspend publication. The severe reduction of advertising during this recession has placed an impossible burden on the resources of the 44 year old weekly newspaper. The Bay State Banner will resume publication only after satisfactory financial arrangements have been completed.

But! It may only be an attempt to interest investors; Miller says it's only for a couple weeks - although one advertiser reported getting back this response to a question about the paper folding:

I'm really sorry to report but the Banner is not publishing after this week's paper. We cannot remain in business in this economic climate and will continue to look for new owners/investors while we are closed so at some point it can reopen and continue on its mission. Until then, there is no Banner. Real bummer – and sorry for the inconvenience.

A blog apology

adamg — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:08:13 +0000

Last month, Candelaria Silva decried what she called the Black-on-Black crime of the eradication of Black cultural businesses and institutions in Boston. She ended by fretting about the fate of the Bay State Banner, whose owner has a white wife.

Last night, Silva posted an apology:

... The words I wrote have been running through my mind again and again. If I was the Black wife of a White business owner and someone wrote about what a shame it would be if the business were to fall in my hands because it would no longer be White-owned, there would be a hew and cry. The difference would be that in this case some people might assume that as a Black wife I wasn’t qualified to run whatever White business. In the case of the Bay State Banner, the competency of the White wife would never be a question, or at least not in my mind. ...