Name
McElroy, George Albert, 1922-2006 (Interviewee)
La Brie, Henry G (Interviewer)
Title
Oral history interview with George McElroy, 1971
Other Titles
Reminiscences of George McElroy : oral history, 1971
Abstract
At the beginning of this interview, McElroy notes challenges for the black press, such as the small pool of experienced editors and publishers, lack of advertising, and unsatisfactory salaries. Discussing the outsourcing of the assembly of a newspaper, McElroy notes the importance of having a physical place where a paper is published. He discusses: the impact of white ownership of a black newspaper ; the past successes of the black press; the social engagement of black papers at the time of the interview; the white readership of black papers; and the importance of the editorial page. The interview concludes with McElroy's thoughts on the political role of the black press and about the difference between black newspapers in the North and South.
Collection Name
Black Journalists oral history collection
Subjects
Journalists; African Americans--Civil rights; Newspaper publishing--Economic aspects--United States; Journalism--Political aspects; Journalism--Social aspects; Advertising--Newspapers; African American press; African American journalists; Houston (Tex.); United States Race relations; McElroy, George Albert, 1922-2006; Houston Post
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
1971
Physical Description
1 sound file : digital preservation master, WAV files (96 kHz, 24 bit); 25 pages
Note (Biographical)
George Albert McElroy (1922-2006) was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Having been turned away by the University of Texas because of segregation laws, he received a bachelor 's degree from Texas Southern University (then known as Texas Southern State University for Negroes). In 1970, he became the first African American to receive a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. He was the first black reporter and columnist for the Houston Post, formerly Texas' largest morning daily. He worked for the Houston Informer for fifty-eight years, serving as Editor Emeritus in his final years.
Note (Funding)
Digital reproduction funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Note
Interviewed by Henry G. La Brie III on August 18, 1971.
Service copy (44 kHz, 16 bit) and rendered version (96 kHz, 24 bit) of sound file derived from a digital preservation master digitized at 96 kHz, 24 bit.
Digitized by Safe Sound Archive, Philadelphia, 2010.
Note (Provenance)
Henry G. La Brie III Gift, 1975
Language
English
Library Location
Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content
Catalog Record
6984774
Also In
Oral History Archives at Columbia
Time-Based Media
Time-Based Media
Persistent URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-ke1f-hr51
Related URLs
Available digital content for this interview.