fbpx
Wikipedia

The Florida Star

February 11, 2024

Not to be confused with The Star (Florida).

The Florida Star is a weekly newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 1951 to cater to Jacksonville's African American community, it is the oldest African-American newspaper in Northeast Florida.

The Florida Star
The 19 April 2014 front page of
The Florida Star
TypeWeekly newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Clara McLaughlin
Founder(s)Eric O. Simpson
PublisherClara McLaughlin
FoundedApril 15, 1951 (1951-04-15)
HeadquartersJacksonville, Florida
Circulation21,000[1]
Sister newspapersThe Georgia Star
Websitethefloridastar.com
thegeorgiastar.com

History edit

The Florida Star was founded in 1951 by Eric O. Simpson, a veteran of national publications, to give Jacksonville its own African-American newspaper. The Star catered specifically to the city's black community at a time when other local media ignored or downplayed African-American and civil rights stories. During the 1950s and '60s it was one of the most significant forces championing civil rights in Jacksonville, pressuring the government to adopt reforms, endorsing black political candidates, and keeping its readers apprised of boycotts and sit-ins.[2]

The Star also became known for its sensational crime reporting, which often included scandalous headlines printed in red. In 1983 the paper became embroiled in a legal battle when it printed a rape victim's name, leading to the U.S. Supreme Court case Florida Star v. B. J. F. A trainee reporter copied the police report, which included the victim's name, and the Star inadvertently included her name in an article. This violated the Star's internal policy and Florida's rape shield law. The victim sued and was awarded $97,500 in damages, greater than the paper's value. The Star appealed, eventually reaching the Supreme Court. In 1989 the Court overturned the earlier judgement, ruling that punishing a newspaper for reporting accurate, legally obtained material did not accord with the First Amendment.[2][3][4]

In 1977, following telephone threats, The Florida Star headquarters on Myrtle Street was subject to an arson attack that damaged the lobby. In 1993, a second arson attack destroyed the building and much of its archive. Simpson and his family committed to maintaining the paper, publishing that week's issue only one day late.[2][4]

Simpson headed the paper until his death in 1994. His wife, Mary Wooten Simpson, succeeded him; under her watch the paper expanded its staff, coverage, and circulation.[5] Managing editor Erica Simpson, Eric and Mary Simpson's daughter, took over after her mother's death in 2001.[6] Media pioneer Clara McLaughlin purchased the paper from the Simpson family in 2002 and currently serves as publisher.[7] In January 2007, The Florida Star launched a Georgia edition, The Georgia Star.[8]

Awards and recognition edit

Eric Simpson was posthumously inducted into the Florida Press Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He was the first African-American to be inducted.[9][10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Member Directory". Florida Press Association. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  2. ^ a b c Andino, Alliniece T. (April 20, 2001). "Black-interest newspaper marks 50th". The Florida-Times Union. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Sterling, Christopher H. (2009) "Privacy Protection: The Florida Star v. B. J. F. (1989)", pp. 1518–1519. In Encyclopedia of Journalism. SAGE Publications. ISBN 1452261520. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Journey, Mark (August 14, 1993). "Fire no match for historic paper". St. Petersburg Times.
  5. ^ "Publisher's widow brings newspaper back from ashes". Orlando Sentinel (Associated Press). November 25, 1994.
  6. ^ Pinkham, Paul (January 30, 2001). "Florida Star publisher Mary Wooten Simpson, 77, dies". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved June 24, 2014
  7. ^ Darm, Lauren (May 6, 2011). "McLaughlin an African-American media pioneer". Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "The Florida Star: Clara McLaughlin" (August 6, 2007). Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Eric Simpson" (2014). www.flpress.com. Florida Press Association. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Our History" (2014). www.thefloridastar.com. The Florida Star. Retrieved June 24, 2014.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • The Florida Star. (Jacksonville, Fla.). Florida Digital Newspaper Library. George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida.
  • Mondo Times entry
  • Chronicling America entry

February 11, 2024
florida, star, confused, with, star, florida, weekly, newspaper, jacksonville, florida, founded, 1951, cater, jacksonville, african, american, community, oldest, african, american, newspaper, northeast, florida, april, 2014, front, page, oftypeweekly, newspape. Not to be confused with The Star Florida The Florida Star is a weekly newspaper in Jacksonville Florida Founded in 1951 to cater to Jacksonville s African American community it is the oldest African American newspaper in Northeast Florida The Florida StarThe 19 April 2014 front page ofThe Florida StarTypeWeekly newspaperFormatBroadsheetOwner s Clara McLaughlinFounder s Eric O SimpsonPublisherClara McLaughlinFoundedApril 15 1951 1951 04 15 HeadquartersJacksonville FloridaCirculation21 000 1 Sister newspapersThe Georgia StarWebsitethefloridastar wbr com thegeorgiastar wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Awards and recognition 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe Florida Star was founded in 1951 by Eric O Simpson a veteran of national publications to give Jacksonville its own African American newspaper The Star catered specifically to the city s black community at a time when other local media ignored or downplayed African American and civil rights stories During the 1950s and 60s it was one of the most significant forces championing civil rights in Jacksonville pressuring the government to adopt reforms endorsing black political candidates and keeping its readers apprised of boycotts and sit ins 2 The Star also became known for its sensational crime reporting which often included scandalous headlines printed in red In 1983 the paper became embroiled in a legal battle when it printed a rape victim s name leading to the U S Supreme Court case Florida Star v B J F A trainee reporter copied the police report which included the victim s name and the Star inadvertently included her name in an article This violated the Star s internal policy and Florida s rape shield law The victim sued and was awarded 97 500 in damages greater than the paper s value The Star appealed eventually reaching the Supreme Court In 1989 the Court overturned the earlier judgement ruling that punishing a newspaper for reporting accurate legally obtained material did not accord with the First Amendment 2 3 4 In 1977 following telephone threats The Florida Star headquarters on Myrtle Street was subject to an arson attack that damaged the lobby In 1993 a second arson attack destroyed the building and much of its archive Simpson and his family committed to maintaining the paper publishing that week s issue only one day late 2 4 Simpson headed the paper until his death in 1994 His wife Mary Wooten Simpson succeeded him under her watch the paper expanded its staff coverage and circulation 5 Managing editor Erica Simpson Eric and Mary Simpson s daughter took over after her mother s death in 2001 6 Media pioneer Clara McLaughlin purchased the paper from the Simpson family in 2002 and currently serves as publisher 7 In January 2007 The Florida Star launched a Georgia edition The Georgia Star 8 Awards and recognition editEric Simpson was posthumously inducted into the Florida Press Association Hall of Fame in 2003 He was the first African American to be inducted 9 10 References edit Member Directory Florida Press Association Retrieved 2023 04 10 a b c Andino Alliniece T April 20 2001 Black interest newspaper marks 50th The Florida Times Union Retrieved June 24 2014 Sterling Christopher H 2009 Privacy Protection The Florida Star v B J F 1989 pp 1518 1519 In Encyclopedia of Journalism SAGE Publications ISBN 1452261520 Retrieved June 24 2014 a b Journey Mark August 14 1993 Fire no match for historic paper St Petersburg Times Publisher s widow brings newspaper back from ashes Orlando Sentinel Associated Press November 25 1994 Pinkham Paul January 30 2001 Florida Star publisher Mary Wooten Simpson 77 dies The Florida Times Union Retrieved June 24 2014 Darm Lauren May 6 2011 McLaughlin an African American media pioneer Jacksonville Business Journal Retrieved June 23 2014 The Florida Star Clara McLaughlin August 6 2007 Jacksonville Business Journal Retrieved June 24 2014 Eric Simpson 2014 www flpress com Florida Press Association Retrieved June 24 2014 Our History 2014 www thefloridastar com The Florida Star Retrieved June 24 2014 External links edit nbsp Florida portal nbsp Journalism portalOfficial website The Florida Star Jacksonville Fla Florida Digital Newspaper Library George A Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida Mondo Times entry Chronicling America entry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Florida Star amp oldid 1181920683, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.