Point of View (newspaper)

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Point of View is a monthly newspaper published since 2003 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Newspaper is owned and published by Frederick and Marjorie Hurst, attorneys practicing in Massachusetts. Point of View distributes free copies of its newspaper in Western Massachusetts and throughout the state of Connecticut. The newspaper is also available online.

History

Publication of the newspaper started as a quarterly before advancing to a bi-monthly with six issues in its second year, and as a monthly in the third year. Beginning on March 1, 2003, by Frederick and Marjorie Hurst published the mission of opening up the world of journalism to include a wider variety of viewpoints than the range typically published in mainstream media. Articles are written by educators, lawyers, financial planners, business people, doctors and other health personnel, traditional journalists, dietitians, ministers, political commentators, artists, poets, and musicians.

Leadership

Frederick and Marjorie Hurst worked on poverty programs as civil rights activists, taught school, raised a family of professionals, and practiced law prior to founding the newspaper in 2003. They both graduated from Springfield Public Schools—Frederick attended the Springfield Technical High School and Marjorie attended the High School of Commerce. Both went on to graduate from Howard University before attending law school—Frederick receiving his law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1982 and Marjorie receiving her law degree from Western New England College School of Law in 1985.

Inspiration

Frederick Hurst wanted to start a newspaper for years, as far back as the early 1970s when he started a newsletter that he eventually discontinued. Hurst said he shared a common African-American angst about the portrayal of the African-American community in the mainstream media. He saw those portrayals to be primarily negative, while any positive portrayals were considered exceptional by the majority-controlled media. He also believed that health issues and other quality-of-life issues lacked an effective focus on the minority community. Hurst wanted to provide the newspaper as a place where the minority community could overcome their fears about speaking out on uncomfortable truths, especially to power.

Mission

Point of View was originally conceived as an African-American newspaper. Over time, the paper began including demographic groups seeking outlets for different points of view. Today, the newspaper tailors its coverage to this diverse, wider community, and both readers and writers come from a spectrum of ethnic groups.

For example, Point of View covers topics including:

  • Politics and political happenings from north of Springfield, Massachusetts, going south through Connecticut.
  • Other events throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including controversial issues (e.g., gambling).

Impact

  1. After more than 10 years of operation, Point of View became established as an institution in the African-American community and beyond with distribution across communities in Western Massachusetts and south into Connecticut for the Greater Hartford area, New Haven, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, communities.
  2. Point of View′s editorial approach disseminates information on the key problems and solutions affecting the African-American community (e.g., healthcare).
  3. Point of View’s focus on educational issues allows a broad cross section of educational writers, from preschool to higher ed, to focus educational information to specific populations within the local community.
  4. Point of View′s partnerships with some of the major institutions in its distribution area (e.g., Baystate Health Systems, Springfield Technical Community College, MassMutual Financial Group, and others) to help channel the messages of these partners directly to the African-American community and beyond.
  5. People with much to say but nowhere to say it have been given a forum as writers for Point of View.
  6. Point of View writers are ethnically, educationally, and geographically diverse, including African-American, White, and Latino writers from Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Their education ranges from high school to post graduate degrees.
  7. Point of View features political commentary in each issue that focuses on current subjects, such as the impact of Massachusetts’ casino laws on its readers, police brutality, the O. J. Simpson verdict, the Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis verdicts, the “prison industrial complex” as fueled by the war on drugs, and its disproportionate impact on the African-American community.

Circulation

On average, Point of View distributes 20,000 copies of their print version per month. The paper’s online version receives 30,000-40,000 hits each month.

POV writers and coverage

  • Gianna Allentuck, Education
  • Melvin Wm. Bell, Editor, International Black Sports
  • Nicole Blais, Early Education and Childcare
  • Brenda’s Child, Spoken Word Poet
  • Sally Fuller, Education
  • Magdalena Gómez, Latina Groove
  • Doris Harris, Health
  • Anika C. Johnson, Health
  • Zelmon Johnson, Black Business
  • Rhonda Jones, Urban Cook
  • Larry Martin, Business & Workforce Development
  • Terri Schlichenmeyer, Children's Book Reviews
  • Kirk Smith, Community
  • Patricia Spradley, Parents & Community
  • Rev. Talbert W. Swan, II, Community Perspectives
  • Rev. Dr. Atu White, Religious Editor
  • Samuel N. Wilson Jr., Personal Finance
  • Dr. Sweets S. Wilson, Life's Challenges
  • Lora Wondolowski, Community
  • Walter Woodgett, Financial Advice
  • Rosemary “Tracy” Woods, Arts
  • Numerous Contributing Writers of Op-Eds and Various Topics

See also

  • African-American newspapers