Oral history interview with Joel Smith, 1971

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Name: Smith, Joel (Interviewee); La Brie, Henry G (Interviewer)
Title: Oral history interview with Joel Smith, 1971
Other Titles: Reminiscences of Joel Smith : oral history, 1971; Oral history of Joel Smith, 1971
Abstract: Joel Smith begins this 1971 interview by outlining his personal and professional background. La Brie proceeds to ask about the differences between black and white newspapers. Smith discusses the successes and failures of the black press over time and about its future prospects. La Brie asks how the black press has changed and about its sensationalist reputation. Smith explains how he relies on dive rse news sources to understand current events and the black press' unique ability to interpret them. The conversation turns to a comparison between the black and establishment press. La Brie asks how the United States would be different without the black press and about its changing social role. They discuss why there are relatively few black newspapers. La Brie asks about the need for a national black news service and what section is, in his view, the most important. The interview concludes with a discussion of whether the mainstream press has become more representative in its coverage of minority affairs.
Collection Name: Black Journalists oral history collection
Subjects: Journalism--Social aspects; Journalists; African Americans--Civil rights; African American press; African American journalists; Atlanta (Ga.); United States Race relations; Smith, Joel
Format: oral histories
Genre: Interviews
Date: 1971
Physical Description: sound files : digital preservation master, WAV files (96kHz, 24 bit); 19 pages
Note (Biographical): Born in South Carolina in 1906, Joel Smith was a senior reporter for the Atlanta Daily World. He was educated at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He worked as a high school teacher, for the Department of Labor, and for Bell Aircraft.
Note: Interviewed by Henry G. La Brie III on July 14, 1971.
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: 11564273
Also In: Oral History Archives at Columbia; Time-Based Media; Time-Based Media
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-mh93-1g59
Related URLs: Available digital content for this interview.