The first edition of a new weekly paper aimed at Philadelphia's black community makes its debut tomorrow.
Ernest A. Edwards Jr., the former developer of the Osage Avenue homes, is owner, publisher and editor of the new Philadelphia Sunday Press.
"Ours is a positive newspaper," Edwards said. "It's progressive, upbeat and upscale with no blood or guts or gore. We're not interested in whose house burned down or who got robbed.
"We're interested in the success of black people, and in helping black people feel good about themselves, giving them a belief they can do something about their circumstances and condition."
The paper will contain local, national, international, business, sports, lifestyle and travel news and comics "all meaningful to black people and aimed at the black market," he said.
The initial press run will be 50,000 copies costing $1 each and will be available at 700 locations throughout the city, including 100 churches. The full-color edition will consist of 76 to 80 pages in eight sections with about 70 advertisers. The largest advertiser is Equibank.
Eventually, the paper will contain a classified section.
Edwards declined to discuss revenue and expenses, but did say that he plans to share ownership of the paper with some local churches.
The Sunday Press employs 25 full- and part-time staff members and 20 outside correspondents, Edwards said. Executive editor is Sandra Barnhill; acting managing editor, Denise Mayo; and senior editor, Ken Dossar.
It will be printed by the Gannett Co.'s Lansdale Reporter in Montgomery County.
