Exclusive: Veteran Lou Ransom tapped for top spot at Chicago Defender
Management takeover comes after Roland Martin exits the Black Press industry
March 16, 2007 – Wash, DC – (BlackPressMagazine.com) – Lou Ransom, a veteran of the Black Press, has been named Executive Editor of the Chicago Defender. The position became available after Roland Martin announced his departure.
The Chicago Defender has tapped one of its sister newspapers for its next executive editor. Hiram Jackson, chairman of Real Times Media.
"This is a great day for the Chicago Defender," said Jackson in a statement. "I am excited about Lou becoming part of the Defender family."
Jackson said that Ransom was selected after a national search. Jackson said a priority for Ransom will be increasing the amount of local news stories that appear in the Chicago Defender. Ransom describes his newspaper career as "having done just about everything you can do with a newspaper, except sell them, because it was his brother who had the paper route. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Point Park College, Ransom is a Vietnam-era U.S. Navy veteran, and found his calling while serving in the Navy.
"One of the virtues of working with the Black Press is that you are afforded the opportunity to wear a lot of hats," he says. "I have been a business writer, sports writer, photographer, editorial writer, church page editor and community editor - and that was just in my last job."
"The Chicago Defender, along with the Pittsburgh Courier, are the gold standard when it comes to the Black Press," says Ransom. "Their importance to the Black community nationwide cannot be minimized. I look forward to serving the community in Chicago and bringing my own experience to the newspaper.
"I've worked for John Sengstacke, John Johnson and Earl Graves, Sr. during my 27 years in this profession," he says.
CHICAGO DEFENDER AFFECTED BY COPYRIGHT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Update: The class action lawsuit was brought by a group of largely White freelancer writers who alleged that their copyrights were infringed and that their work was published without compensation or their consent. Many Black newspapers and magazines have been named defendants. The appeal from the court's Order of September 2005 approving the settlement of this class action. Oral argument was held on March 7, 2007. Michael Boni argued for plaintiffs and the Class, Charles Sims argued for the defendants and Charles Chalmers argued for the objectors. We cannot predict how the panel will rule, or when. It is not unusual for Courts of Appeal to rule 6-9 months after the oral argument, or even longer. Please check this page periodically for any updates.
Find out if you're affected by the Copyright Class Action lawsuit.
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