The first attempt of the Negro journalist to publish a daily newspaper was The Cairo (Ill.) Gazette, which was first issued April 23, 1882. The editor was W. S. Scott. The paper was issued regularly for six months when the plant was destroyed by fire. It was a readable sheet, contained much original matter, and had a good force of reporters.
Columbus Messenger
The next attempt was The Columbus Messenger, published at Columbus. Ga. It was first issued as a daily in 1888. It was edited by B. T. Harvey, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute. The sheet was 12 by 20 inches.
Dailies Issued for Short Periods
Several newspapers have issued daily editions for short periods. The Knoxville (Tenn.) Negro World was issued daily as an advertising medium for two weeks. About 1890 The Public Ledger of Baltimore, Md., was issued daily by Wesley Adams, for a short period. The Nashville Globe published a daily during the $30,000 Y. M. C. A. campaign in Nashville, Tenn., June 1-12, 1913. It proved a tremendous success for the twelve days and had an average circulation of 5,000 per day. During the World War The Herald of Baltimore, Md., edited by W. T. Andrews, was issued daily.
Dailies in Form of “Broadsides”
Three daily papers are being published at present. Two of these, The Richmond (Va.) Colored American and The Washington Colored American are published by the American Publicity Bureau, Inc. and The National Negro Publicity Bureau, Inc., respectively with D. Eugene Taylor listed as general manager of both. In form these papers are “broadsides”—a bulletin type of sheet printed on only one side. They are printed on a sheet measuring 24 inches by 36 inches. The news is set in two double columns, running down the center of the page between a double column of advertising on each side.
Daily Standard
The third paper is The Indianapolis Daily Standard which began publication the latter part of April, 1922, under the editorship of C. C. Shelby. It is a 7 column, 4-page paper and retails at 2 cents per copy.
Drawbacks to Negro Daily