Newark, NJ - Sunday marks the 197th anniversary of the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States, the origin of today’s Black Press. That paper, The Freedom Journal, was published and distributed on March 16, 1827 from its offices in what is now the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, news leaders across the country made a flurry of promises: They made commitments to diversify stories, sourcing and staff; to question statements by authorities; and to lead the charge on equity — both in the newsroom and in communities served by the outlet.  Now, just four years after Floyd’s death, journalists across the nation are being squeezed out, laid off or shifted to other beats as newsrooms move on, contending with an evergreen funding problem. Many of them are young, BIPOC journalists who will either be burned out or laid off.  Unfortunately, there is a pattern to this.