Newspapers Birmingham-Pittsburgh Traveler

Montgomery-Tuskegee Times

Reverend Al Dixon of Montgomery, Alabama started a weekly newspaper called the Montgomery-Tuskegee Times. It is one of the prominent black newspapers in that area. Mr. Dixon started the paper in the 1970's because of his desire to meet the needs of the black community. "Starting the newspaper developed out of a need for a source of information for us by us, written by black folks, controlled by black folks, seeing what the interest of black folks and doing it from a first hand perspective because I am black." From left to right: Reverend Al Dixon, Elkinsette Clinton, Kyle Guthrie, Elissa David, Al Dixon Jr. "We realized that as a black community we must not have anybody else communicating for us" "I was a disc jockey most of my life in radio news and was President of all the black disc jockeys in the country" Reverend Dixon started in radio in 1955. During this time realized the importance of being able to communicate for the black people and to black people. It is the most significant thing about owning a publication or any aspect of the media. Mr. Dixon also stressed the importance of the paper in his family. "My wife was the bookkeeper, my son, was in charge of savings and circulation, my daughter is in charge of topography and composition, putting it together, one of my sons is in charge of photography. Making the paper a family affair keeps the family closer, stronger and in charge of a business and handle their own. Montgomery-Tuskegee Times is called"the alternative paper" by Mr. Dixon because it gives the other side of the story. The white-controlled press offered limited reportage on blacks. Not only did they limit what they wrote, they covered only the dark side of the black community: stealing or other crimes committed in the black community. They never covered the good things about the community, and were not representative of the black population. Because of this, many black newspapers such as the Montgomery Tuskegee Times took on the role of being the voice of the black community in Montgomery. The newspaper is a way for blacks to promote education, black businesses, and updates on social events in Alabama. It is very involved in the community. It lists local events that take place in the city. It also host many conventions; for example, the Black Extravaganza. They also have a Black History Awards Banquet, the largest in the city. The award recipients are those that participate and support the community. The newspaper not only deals with local issues, it also has articles on national news. The paper is part of the National Newspapers Publishing Association. They send information on the national topics to the paper and if it is of interest to the people in Montgomery it will be printed. The Montgomery-Tuskegee Times is one the few black newspapers that have been able to survive in Montgomery.