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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

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Publishers Note Scoop’s Truth: Make it make sense

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I need to start this article by saying this is My Truth, and paraphrasing Malcolm X and saying that when you take money out of your community, you make the other communities richer and make our communities poorer.

Unfortunately, that is what is happening with Scoop and has happened with many Black newspapers that have gone out of business because the people who need us–choose to support media that are not from our community and do not care if you survive or not. People, we are LOSING our VOICE…

It has been a difficult year, and I need to share this with you all because I need it to make sense. And, because I have not been able to make sense of what is happening and I have a voice (I own a newspaper that I share this newspaper with well over 40,000 people each week)–but I am alone in this fight, so I think it is time to speak out.

At the beginning of this year, I shared an article and stated that I am a Black woman, and I believe my statement may have been taken out of context. So, I need to restate that fact and say I am a Black woman from North Philadelphia (Johnson Homes Projects and 24th & Berks Street) who now lives in West Philadelphia. I work anywhere from 50-60 hours a week with no pay. I run an almost one-woman show. I seek out news and information, edit, read, typeset, and publish two weekly papers and one monthly publication, print and digital. I also manage all business functions. I have (well up until recently) two radio programs, The Inside Scoop on WWDB-AM each week…

I try my best to attend and support as many community events and initiatives as possible, not because I make money from the community but because I live here. I truly believe we are better than people say we are. As a Black woman, I have nothing but give everything, only to be smacked in my face every day when I have to show up for my community, knowing that Scoop gets no support. Please explain to me why I am on the verge of going out of business.

About Scoop
As far as staff, Scoop has two part-time staff people, four delivery people, a photographer, and about ten people who write for us. The only people we can afford to pay consistently are the delivery people and the printer. We are a Black community paper. We publish FREE publications and try to share information–for our communities… My staff, without pay, will show up and write our stories, and we manage to put out a paper each week with little to no funding, and we support our communities. We are never late. We print each week at the same time. We do not fake deliveries or change our print dates to mislead our advertisers, and we stand on our commitment to being truthful, dependable, reliable, and there for our communities.

I cannot understand how people can ask Scoop to tell their story, knowing they do not support this publication but still expect us to stand by them. What is astonishing is that Scoop often sells or promotes ad specials, so we can encourage people/businesses to advertise and support community news. Some community people support, but those who do not support (almost always) show up saying they need help after they have literally slammed doors in our faces and would not even spend $100 to help us stay in business. The power of a newspaper comes from its community. If you have a strong community, you are a viable publication. Scoop has readers; we do not have supporters. I often say we have low subscriptions and few advertisers, so if we stand up to support our communities-who will stand with us? Unfortunately, my answer is always No one!

Scoop has two dedicated monthly advertisers, Independence Blue Cross and Dishing with Patricia. The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office recently moved from monthly to every other month. That’s our annual advertising budget. Of all the people who read this paper, that is it. Remember, Scoop is the only 100% Black women-certified media company. Certified businesses are supposed to be the first preference because they meet the DEI requirements–this not happening today and has never happened. Please make it make sense.

I understand that I am in business and that people have a choice in business. But what I do not understand is how the Black Clergy of Philadelphia, the Board of Education, Community College, The City of Philadelphia, PHA, Temple University, The Unions, and every elected official in the city, state, and US can send press releases and information for our readers, ask for interviews and to share information, but cannot advertise to help offset the cost of paying photographers, reporters and/or print and distribution. (Please note, this list includes people who have had front page articles and information in Scoop and do not support—crazy, right).

Please remember that I am a Black woman. I used to laugh and say, “It’s like million-dollar businesses asking a poor Black woman to work for free,” but this is not a joke. It’s true. These companies make millions and need people (like me) to share information (to show social impact) on their behalf but refuse to spend a dollar to help offset the cost. But, they will gladly advertise with Septa and billboard companies, mainstream media, Caucasian, and other ethnically focused publications. Please make it make sense.

Are we not worthy? Do our readers not have value, or is it me? A Black woman, that is the problem.

About me, I am the only publisher who attends press conferences and personally puts together every paper that comes out of Scoop. You can ride past our offices any night and see the lights on because I am working, trying to meet all deadlines and ensure this paper lives up to its history. No other publisher, publication, print, broadcast, or anything else does that, and mind you, with no pay. I get nothing for this.

I totally understand we live in a world of choices, where people have many options when it comes to who they want to support, but how is it that we are good enough to share information but not good enough to share your ads? Please make this make sense.

I am a proud Black woman, and I do not believe that I should have to beg for anything, so I don’t. I do the work. I show up and I support because I truly believe that at some point, these businesses and politicians would see who is in the room, always in the room, and support. But that has not happened in the eight years I have owned this paper, and I truly don’t understand. Please help me make it make sense.

Today, we are completely broke. I have lost my spirit, and I am totally defeated. I am tired of showing up and being treated like sh…

The final straw is this election. How or why do people have to beg or solicit ads on behalf of the only 100% certified black woman-owned publication in the tri-state area for a Black woman’s campaign? Not to mention, the fact that the problems with voter apathy and low voter turnout are prevalent in the communities where our readers live and work. None of this makes sense. I don’t know what to do, and I don’t understand. What I do understand is why so many Black publications have QUIT…

Between social media and mainstream media working to control the narrative and our community’s failure to support Black Owned Media or work to keep OUR VOICE… we, Black people, are going to lose.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Hi Sherri, thank you for sharing. Actually it was my old friend, Mel Wells who shared your post.
    I would be happy to help Scoop because it is a community publication. I grew up in the Richard Allen/Cambridge Projects myself and have fond memories – not all good, but fond just the same. Also you should know what I’ve been doing in the non-profit space for 25 years; but more about that later. What is the easiest way to send support to Scoop?

    • Good afternoon Andre and thank you for responding. If you would like to make a donation you can on the scoopusamedia.com website and/or if you have some ideas or opportunities for businesses who can advertise consistently that would be helpful. Anything is appreciated.

      Sherri

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