Black Press Week Observes 199 Years of the Black Press

The National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund and Howard University’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center have announced Black Press Week, a five-day observance set for March 16–20, 2026, that will honor the enduring legacy of Black-owned media while examining its future in a rapidly changing information landscape.

Held under the theme, “Truth, Trust, and Technology: Approaching 200 Years of the Black Press in a Transforming Information Age,” the week will bring together journalists, scholars, technologists, students and community leaders for conversations centered on the role of Black media in preserving truth, advancing equity and strengthening community trust.

The observance comes as the Black Press approaches a major historic milestone. March 16 marks the anniversary of the 1827 founding of Freedom’s Journal, widely recognized as the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States.

Black Press Week’s event calendar begins Monday, March 16, with the Black Press Kickoff. On Tuesday, March 17, the spotlight turns to Black Press USA’s Morning Show Kick-Off Countdown to 200 at Kitchen & Kocktails. The official Black Press Reception will take place on Wednesday, March 18, followed by All Eyes on Black Media on Thursday, March 19, and Future of Black Press on Friday, March 20.

The community is welcome to sign up and join in the events to honor the history of the Black Press, but also to confront the pressing questions shaping Black media today.