Still printing, still powerful: The Savannah Tribune at 150 years

By Tavon N. Thomasson
AFRO Intern
tthomasson@afro.com

In a time before keyboard clacks and mouse clicks echoed through the newsroom, The Savannah Tribune began its mission to inform, uplift and empower Black readers. 150 years later, that mission continues. 

Founded in 1875 as The Colored Tribune, the newspaper was among the first Black-owned publications in the South to use journalism as a tool for activism. Founders John H. Deveaux, Louis B. Toomer Sr. and Louis M. Pleasant envisioned a platform that would not only inform but empower a newly recognized Black electorate. 

“Some of the very first editorials were encouraging people to register to vote,” said Shirley B. James, who serves as the current publisher and owner. “Then it moved along from there, where the emphasis was on voting and making sure they [even] had articles condemning some institutions in the city.” 

In 1876 the paper debuted a new name: The Savannah Tribune.  

“In my opinion, that kind of says ‘We are not going to be designated and identified just as colored Americans—we are Americans, we are civilians, we are The Savannah Tribune,’” James told the AFRO.

Despite its promising beginnings, The Savannah Tribune was forced to shut down in 1878 after White printers in Savannah refused to produce the paper. Eight years later, in 1886, the publication returned.

From 1886 to 1960, The Savannah Tribune thrived as a leading voice in the Black Press. Under the leadership of Solomon C. Johnson and later his goddaughter, Willa Ayers Johnson, the paper championed education, civil rights and social justice. But by the time of Ayers Johnson’s tenure, the media landscape had begun to shift, posing new challenges for Black-owned publications.

“It was during that period of time when mainstream media finally became aware of how they could utilize news from the Black community to increase their presence as well as their means of generating funds,” said James. “A lot of mainstream media began to publish positive news, even though they were still publishing all of the negative things about us. And so drew away from our audiences in the African-American newspapers. Several African-American newspapers folded during that period of time.”

The Tribune, like many Black newspapers impacted by declining ad revenue and changing audience habits, was forced to shut down in 1960. It remained dormant until 1973, when it was revived by Robert E. James, husband of current publisher Shirley B. James. 

Today, the Tribune is once again doing what it has always done, covering Black stories and serving the community, all while evolving to serve a digital-first world. 

“You’ve got the internet, you’ve got social media, you’ve got videos—it’s a lot of fragmentation,” said Tanya Milton, the vice president and advertising director of The Savannah Tribune.  “You have to hold on to some consistency. What is most consistent about us is that we print and we do all that other stuff too.” 

While Milton and The Savannah Tribune continue expanding their reach through new platforms, they’re also finding creative ways to engage niche audiences.

“We have created a dining guide, and for that we hired a videographer to go into these restaurants and actually film the food…and we post it,” said Milton. “I mean, this guy is so good. He puts sound behind it where you actually hear the water being poured, the egg frying and the bacon.”

More than just adapting to the digital age, The Savannah Tribune is staying true to its mission, delivering news that reflects the daily realities of African Americans while ensuring its trusted voice carries forward for years to come.

“My vision is that, since we just celebrated 150 years, that 150 years from now someone will be celebrating The Savannah Tribune,” said James. “I still think that our mission now is more important than ever. I guess John Deveaux, Louis Pleasant and Louis Toomer thought the same thing when they started during that period of time. They overcame the challenges they had, so that gives me hope that we can overcome. I have to have hope that we can maintain, we can sustain and then we can even grow.”