Legacy is not nostalgia. It is responsibility.

For generations, the Black press has been the conscience, connective tissue, and cultural archive of our communities. In Milwaukee, that legacy lives powerfully through the life and work of Mr. Jerrel Jones and the enduring voice of The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV. Mr. Jones did not simply publish a newspaper and entertain radio listeners; he cultivated a platform where Black Milwaukee could see itself clearly…its struggles, its victories, its entrepreneurs, its churches, its elected officials, and its everyday heroes.

The Black press has always been more than ink on paper. From the anti-lynching campaigns of Ida B. Wells to the fearless publishing leadership of Charlotta Bass, our newspapers were never neutral observers. They were instruments of survival and progress. They uplifted, educated, organized, and when necessary, held powerful people accountable. They created a counter-narrative when mainstream outlets ignored, distorted, or dismissed Black life.

Mr. Jones carried that tradition forward in Milwaukee. Under his stewardship, the paper and the station became trusted institutions. More than media, The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV became one of our city’s townsquares, a place where policy debates met community announcements and where civic engagement met cultural pride. He understood something fundamental: voice is power. And when a community controls its own voice, it shapes its own destiny.

Today, as the newly hired Operations Manager for The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV, I have been tasked with helping steward that legacy and build a bridge to the next generation. That is both an honor and a weighty responsibility. But the bridge we are building will not look exactly like the one constructed by Mr. Jones or our forebears. The world has changed.

We now operate in a digital ecosystem shaped by algorithms, analytics, streaming platforms, podcasts, and shortened attention spans. Information moves at the speed of a swipe. Young readers may never unfold a broadsheet, but they scroll, stream, share, and remix. The challenge before us is not to mourn that shift, but to master it.

The mission of modern Black media remains unchanged over the last two centuries. What changes is the method. Where once we relied solely on the printing press, today we deploy websites, social platforms, newsletters, video storytelling, live events, and radio. We think in ecosystems, not just editions. We build community across airwaves and timelines.

The realignment of The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV under Civic Media’s ownership gives us a renewed opportunity to go bigger, bolder, and Blacker than ever. With expanded infrastructure, cross-platform reach, and strategic partnerships, we are positioned not just to survive in a globally connected economy, but to compete and lead. The fight for attention is fierce. Readers and listeners have infinite options. But legacy institutions have something algorithms cannot manufacture: trust.

And if Mr. Jones’ path teaches us anything, it is that you never build alone. He cultivated allies, advertisers, elected officials, clergy, business leaders, and everyday readers who believed in the mission. In today’s interconnected world, partnership is not optional, it is essential. We must collaborate across sectors, across generations, and even across platforms to ensure that the Black voice in Milwaukee remains strong.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last month of engaging stakeholders, legacy is not simply about preserving the past. It is about translating its spirit into the language of the present. If we honor the courage of those that came before us, then we must be willing to innovate with the same boldness they once demonstrated.

The tools may change. The distribution may evolve. But the purpose remains the same.

And that purpose is worth fighting for.