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Defender moves forward with new editor, location
The Tri-State Defender is celebrating 55 years of commitment to serving as the trusted source of news of, about and affecting the African-American community in Memphis and the surrounding area.
The going-forward component of the newspaper’s celebration includes a rededication to its role as a corporate neighbor to the community; a healthy financial investment in newspaper operations; and the delivery of an enhanced editorial and news product.
As one of the oldest, continuously-published African-American newspapers in the United States, the Tri-State Defender has played an active and pivotal role in the unfolding of the American civil rights movement. Founded by John Sengstacke, the newspaper is now part of the Real Times LLC newspaper group, which includes the Chicago Defender, Michigan Front Page, the Michigan Chronicle, and the New Pittsburgh Courier.
“Historically, the Tri-State Defender has been ‘the voice’ and represented our community well. Our goal is to recapture the relevance of our readers’ concerns, issues and interest,” said Hiram Jackson, chief executive officer of Real Times Media.
Jackson said the newspaper’s drive into the future will be greatly aided by the addition of its new Executive Editor, Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku.
“The Tri-State Defender is a unique, specialty newspaper, which caters and is dedicated to surpassing its presence as the leading source for African American-related news, entertainment and lifestyle information to the metropolitan tri-state area. Dr. Ajanaku brings a wealth of credibility, knowledge, experience and a distinctive sense of confidence to the newspaper,” said Jackson.
“He is a savvy newspaper veteran and exactly what we need to take us to greater heights. He truly believes that there are no limits to greatness! But, what impressed me most about Dr. Ajanaku was that we have the same vision: to use the newspaper as an instrument for the people; a way for their voices to be heard.”
“Dr. Ajanaku is familiar with the Greater Metro Memphis news arena. After receiving a bachelor’s of journalism degree from the University of Missouri, he worked twenty-six and one-half years for The Commercial Appeal newspaper. During his tenure there, he held a variety of reporting assignments, including city, county, suburban, state and federal government beats; “minority” affairs; neighbors; and education.
In 1991, Dr. Ajanaku began the management phase of his career as the night metro desk editor. He transitioned through a series of deputy metro desk editor assignments with supervision over the reporting beats he once covered, in addition to health and medicine, environment and religion. On Christmas night 2003, he concluded his association with the newspaper as the night news editor, with direct supervision over the copy desk and the authority to sign off on the product that showed up at homes and businesses each morning.
Many first became familiar with Dr. Ajanaku as Leroy Williams Jr. He changed his name in 1986 as part of a journey of self-discovery. Karanja means guide; Aidoo is one who puts things in order, sets things in place; and Ajanaku means free and wealthy people.
Dr. Ajanaku, 52, says he is committed to making Memphis a “model city,” and he says joining the Tri-State Defender family is the next step in his journey.
“The Tri-State Defender is the voice of the people and it has no limitations. It is an instrument to greatness. I intend to take the newspaper to greatness and in so doing, take Memphis there also. I am asking everybody to get on board.”
Dr. Ajanaku said he was recently asked if the Tri-State Defender had outlived its usefulness.
“I told them there is a more pertinent question. The question to ask is: Do the people in this city and in this area need a way to hear each other’s ideas, and an institutional voice to assure that happens? My answer is yes. And now the Tri-State Defender is being repositioned to meet the need.”
In addition to new leadership, Real Times Inc., wanted to provide the right environment for the newspaper. So, at the end of the month, the Tri-State Defender and its sister company, Real Times Media - Memphis, the integrated marketing arm of Real Times Inc., will make the move from its G.E. Patterson St. facility to its new downtown location directly across the courtyard from the FedEx Forum and Handy Park.
“The new location will provide the upscale image, the energy and the professional atmosphere the newspaper needs to propel it to the next level,” said Jackson. “We have assembled a team of perspicacious professionals that are excited about the changes and the new direction. I’m inspired by the momentum and motivation of our new team. Everyone has embraced the goal of excellence as the new benchmark for the newspaper.”
As part of its goal of excellence, the newspaper will adopt a new look and feel by the fall of the year.
“We have determined that the best way to honor our 55-year history is to retool the Tri-State Defender for the next 55 years,” said Jackson. “We are making the changes necessary to further our mission of being a defender of our community’s citizens and causes. Memphis is a vibrant and flourishing city on the verge of greatness. As an integral part of that move we reassess and reclaim our initial mission.
“We intend to demonstrate our commitment to the community. We want to touch, connect and serve the Tri-state areas, including Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as cut through the bureaucracy and provide our readers with accurate, prevalent and useful information they need to know,” said Jackson.
“Our readers need to feel like their viewpoint is being heard and represented. The newspaper will reach out to the neighborhoods, corporations, faith-based and civic organizations, as well as elected officials and the entire readership populous. We want to continue the legacy by strengthening the voice of the African-American community and leading the way to self reliance, self awareness and self worth.
“To this end, we have to embrace not only the present, but the future, which includes new audiences, challenges and competition – all of which dictate our need for new content and new methods of delivering content,” said Jackson.
“To be relevant and viable in our 56th year and beyond, we have to make sweeping changes and take bold steps. We are ready! Stay tuned because there’s more to come!”
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