The Westside Gazette Explained

The Westside Gazette is a newspaper based in Broward County, Florida. It was established to serve an African American audience and is the oldest African-American newspaper in the region.

History

Levi Henry established the Westside Gazette in 1971, reportedly with "$158 and [his] good name".[1] Henry, who began his career selling ads for radio station WRBD his contacts to entice advertisers to his new paper.[2] The paper has broken several stories in South Florida's African-American community, including a 1990 incident in which longtime Fort Lauderdale Mayor Bob Cox told fourth-grade students that in order to be mayor, one had to be "free, white and 21".[1]

A weekly paper, The Westside Gazette is now owned by Levi Henry's son, Bobby Henry. Henry's wife, Bertha Henry, was the Chief Executive of Broward County, Florida (County Administrator) for over a decade. Circulation of the newspaper increased from 10,000 copies in 1971 to 70,000 copies in 2001.[1] PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor interned at the paper when she was in high school.

Competing African-American newspapers have alleged that The Westside Gazette inflates circulation numbers.[3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Olmeda . Rafael A. . 'WESTSIDE GAZETTE' IS A FAMILY TRADITION . 3 November 2020 . . 19 February 2001.
  2. Book: Bothel . Todd L. . Legendary Locals of Fort Lauderdale . 2015 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-1-4671-0220-9 . 86 . 3 November 2020 . en.
  3. News: Jones . Elgin . Report Claims: Westside Gazette Outlandishly Inflated Circulation Numbers . 3 November 2020 . . 39 . Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2005. .
  4. Web site: Oh, Henrys. Bob. Norman. April 27, 2006. New Times Broward-Palm Beach.