The Charleston Chronicle facts for kids
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| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | James J. French |
| Publisher | Tolbert Smalls |
| Founded | August 19, 1971 |
| Headquarters |
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| City | Charleston |
| Country | United States |
| Circulation | 6,000 |
| ISSN | 0746-1429 |
| OCLC number | 28446174 |
The Charleston Chronicle is a newspaper that comes out every week. It's made for the African-American and Black communities in Charleston, South Carolina. This newspaper is part of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). The NNPA is a group of over 200 media companies in the United States owned by Black people. About 6,000 copies of the paper are printed each week. Damion Smalls is the editor, and Tolbert Smalls is the publisher.
The newspaper was started in 1971 by James J. French.
Contents
The Story of The Charleston Chronicle
James J. French moved to Charleston, South Carolina in the 1960s. He had been in the Navy and served in Vietnam. After leaving the Navy in 1969, he started The Charleston Chronicle. The first paper came out on August 19, 1971.
Mr. French published the newspaper every week for 45 years! He helped the community a lot through his newspaper. Because of his work, the South Carolina Senate honored him in 2012. They named a road intersection in Charleston the "James J. French Intersection." He also received South Carolina’s highest award for a civilian, called the Order of the Palmetto. The city of Charleston even made October 22 "Jim French Day." James French passed away in 2021 when he was 94 years old.
In 2016, James J. French's grandson, Tolbert Smalls Jr., and Tolbert's brother, Damion Smalls, took over the newspaper. The South Carolina General Assembly recognized Tolbert Smalls Jr. for his important work. He helped bring news to the African-American community in Charleston and nearby areas.
Important News Stories
The Charleston Chronicle has covered many important stories.
Reporting on City Changes
In 2016, a reporter from The Charleston Chronicle, Barney Blakeney, was quoted by NPR. He was talking about the retirement of Charleston's mayor, Joe Riley. Mr. Blakeney pointed out that while the city had improved, not everyone benefited equally. He said that Charleston's population became much more white during the mayor's time in office.
Inspiring a Children's Book
A children's book called The Secret Gumbo Grove won an award. This book was written by Eleanora E. Tate. It was based on a three-part story that she first published in The Charleston Chronicle.
Political Voices in the Paper
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg, who was a mayor and a presidential candidate, wrote an article for the newspaper. He wrote about his plan to help Black communities. He was one of only two presidential candidates at that time who placed campaign ads in The Charleston Chronicle.
Awards and Recognitions
The newspaper and its team have received several awards.
Honoring Women Leaders
In 2017, Nanette French Smalls received a Legacy Award. This award came from the Sister Summit Foundation. Legacy Awards celebrate the work of women of color in the Charleston community.
Community Achievement Award
Also in 2017, The Charleston Chronicle received The Corporate Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was given by the Charleston Branch NAACP.
