Portland Observer

{{Short description|Black newspaper published in Portland, Oregon}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Portland Observer | logo = Portland Observer logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | image = Portland Observer.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | motto = "Committed to Cultural Diversity" | type = Weekly newspaper | format = | owner =  | founder = Rev. Alfred L. Henderson | publisher = Mark Washington | president = | editor = | chief_editor = | deputy_editor = | associate_editor = | managing_editor = | general_manager = Lucinda Baldwin | staff_writers = | founded = 1970 | political_position = | language = English | ceased_publication = | relaunched = | headquarters = 4747 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd<br/> Portland, OR 97211 | publishing_city = | publishing_country = United States | circulation = | circulation_date = | circulation_ref = | readership = | sister_newspapers = | ISSN = 2997-3910 | oclc = 9286929 | RNI = | website = {{URL|http://portlandobserver.com/}} | free = [https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025151/issues/first_pages/ University of Oregon Libraries] }} The '''''Portland Observer''''' is one of the oldest African-American newspapers in Oregon.<ref name="oreg-2012dec12">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/12/charles_washington_longtime_po.html|first=Dana | last=Tims | work=The Oregonian | date=December 10, 2012 | title=Charles Washington, longtime Portland Observer publisher, dies at age 60|access-date=August 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theskanner.com/community/obituaries/16873-portland-observer-publisher-charles-washington-19522012-2012-12-11 | title=Portland Observer Publisher Charles Washington, 1951-2012 | work=The Skanner | date=December 11, 2012 | access-date=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref name="OPBobit">{{cite news | url=http://www.opb.org/news/article/charles-washington-publisher-of-portland-observer-is-dead/ | title=Charles Washington, Publisher Of Portland Observer, Is Dead | website=Oregon Public Broadcasting | date=December 10, 2012 | access-date=August 5, 2016 | first=Sammy|last=Brenner}}</ref> Established in 1970, it is published weekly<ref name="OPB-Washington2">{{cite web|last=Sabatier|first=Julie|title=Remembering Charles Washington|url=http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/remembering-charles-washington/|work=Think Out Loud|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=December 10, 2012|access-date=August 6, 2016}}</ref> (on Wednesdays), in Portland, Oregon. Rev. Alfred L. Henderson founded the paper in 1970, in the tradition of the ''People's Observer'', a 1940s publication that had ceased publication in 1950.<ref name="OE-mclendon">{{Oregon Encyclopedia|mcclendon_william|William McClendon (1915–1996)|first=Stan |last=Fonseca| accessdate=August 6, 2016}} Retrieved August 6, 2016.</ref> Another paper had the same title in Portland, Michigan, from 1876 into the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1921 |title=New P. M. Paper for Lansing |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1921-01-15_53_33 |access-date=2021-02-22 |work=Editor and Publisher |page=38 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=About Portland observer. (Portland, Mich.) 1887-1939 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn96077485/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities}}</ref>

== History == The ''Portland Observer'' was launched by William H. McClendonn in 1938, but due to the Great Depression, folded in 1939.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland Observer {{!}} Historic Black Newspapers of Portland {{!}} Portland State University |url=https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/portlandobserver/ |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=PDXScholar}}</ref> In June 1943, McClendon revived his newspaper as the ''People's Observer,'' which ceased again in July 1950.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Fonseca |first=Stan |date=June 9, 2022 |title=William McClendon (1915-1996) |url=https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mcclendon_william/ |access-date=2020-02-26 |website=Oregon Encyclopedia}}</ref>

Decades later Rev. Alfred L. Henderson re-established the ''Portland'' ''Observer'' in November 1970. At the time he was pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 5, 1977 |title=Honors due editor, pastor |work=The Oregonian |pages=24}}</ref> Six years later Henderson moved to Berkeley, California, but planned to commute back to Portland every two weeks to manage the paper.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1976 |title=Berkley Calls Observer Boss |work=Oregon Journal |pages=2}}</ref>

In October 1987, Henderson named Leon L. Harris, who owned the ''Seattle Observer'' in 1962–63, was named general manager. In 1988, the ''Observer'' moved into its own building, owned by Harris. At that time the paper had about 5,000 paying subscribers and a circulation of 12,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richards |first=Suzanne |date=August 5, 1988 |title=Portland Observer to open new building |work=The Oregonian}}</ref>

After several changes in ownership, Joyce Washington purchased the ''Portland Observer'' in 1989. Her son Corey Washington, who was involved in the paper, was shot to death after a basketball game dispute at Peninsula Park in 1991. He was 27. The company's corporation was named Corey Publishing in his memory.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spicer |first=Osker |date=December 7, 1995 |title=The Portland Observer: A survivor turns 24 |work=The Oregonian |pages=5}}</ref>

Upon her death in 1996,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spicer |first=Osker |date=March 19, 1996 |title=Publisher of The Portland Observer Dies |work=The Oregonian |pages=14}}</ref> Washington's son Charles "Chuck" Washington, a Portland native and a graduate of Jefferson High School, took over as publisher until his death in December 2012.<ref name="oreg-2012dec12" /> The paper was then passed on to Mark Washington. Portland politician, radio host, restaurateur, and veteran Bruce Broussard has held a leadership position at the paper.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2016/08/oregon_libertarian_party_seeks.html | title=Oregon Libertarian Party seeks to raise profile with long-time Republican's endorsement | work=The Oregonian | date=August 4, 2016 | access-date=August 5, 2016 | author=Perry, Douglas}}</ref> Additionally, Albert Williams has also contributed to the paper as general manager.<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Brian |date=September 14, 1987 |title=Black newspapers add to media |work=Portland Business Journal |pages=4}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == * [http://portlandobserver.com/ Portland Observer]

Category:1970 establishments in Oregon Category:African-American history in Portland, Oregon Category:African-American newspapers of Oregon Category:Newspapers published in Portland, Oregon Category:Newspapers established in 1970 Category:Weekly newspapers published in the United States