The Facts (Seattle) facts for kids
Headquarters of The Facts Newspaper
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| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Fitzgerald Redd Beaver |
| Launched | September 7, 1961 |
| Headquarters | 1112 34th Avenue |
| City | Seattle |
| Country | United States |
| Circulation | 50,000 (as of 2022) |
| ISSN | 0427-8879 |
The Facts, also known as Seattle Facts, is a special newspaper. It is an African-American weekly newspaper. It serves the city of Seattle, Washington. The newspaper's main office is in the Central District.
Fitzgerald Redd Beaver started The Facts on September 7, 1961. Pacific Media Inc. prints the newspaper. After Fitzgerald Beaver passed away in 1992, his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Beaver, became the leader. His children, Marla and LaVonne Beaver, are now the publishers and editors. The Facts is part of the West Coast Black Publishers Association. It calls itself the "Voice of the Black Community." This means it speaks for the Black community.
Contents
About The Facts Newspaper
The Facts was the first newspaper in Seattle for African Americans. Now, it is one of only three such newspapers in the area. The newspaper prints about 80,000 copies each week. These copies go to Seattle and nearby places.
The newspaper is published every Wednesday. When it first started, it printed 5,000 copies. Black newspapers in the Puget Sound region are doing well. This is different from a national trend. Many newspapers are seeing fewer readers.
Fitzgerald Redd Beaver started The Facts because he needed a job. He also wanted to make a difference. He wanted to share information with a wide audience. He focused on stories important to the African-American community in Seattle. The Facts also hired many Black journalists. Some of these journalists later started their own newspapers. These include The Medium and The Skanner.
Who Was Fitzgerald Redd Beaver?
Fitzgerald Redd Beaver was born on January 18, 1922. He grew up in Martinsville, Virginia. He finished high school there. Then, he went to North Carolina A&T College. But he left before he graduated.
Fitz had many jobs before moving to the Northwest. He worked for the U.S. Army. He was also a railroad porter. He even worked at a radio station. His time at the radio station made him love public relations and journalism. He became known as "Eager Beaver" on his radio show.
He used his fame to manage a Black-owned radio station in the Northwest. After a short time, he started The Facts. Fitz worked hard to help his community. He was the president of the Boys and Girls Club. He also started a golf club mainly for African Americans. He worked with the government to help minorities get jobs. He passed away in 1992.
Newspaper Competition in Seattle
In Seattle, there are three main newspapers for African Americans. These are The Seattle Medium, The Skanner, and The Facts. People sometimes wonder if Seattle has enough Black residents for three newspapers.
Fitzgerald Redd Beaver, the founder of The Facts, even helped his competitors. He helped Chris Bennett and Ernie Foster start their own newspapers. Later, Redd Beaver made The Facts stand out. He added a special pink color to his newspaper.
The African-American population in Seattle is about 52,000 people. Both The Skanner and The Facts are free newspapers. They earn money from advertisements. The Seattle Medium costs very little, only 25 cents per paper.
How The Facts Helps the Community
The Facts newspaper shares important information. It helps people in Seattle understand what is happening. It also highlights what the community needs.
The Community Involvement Commission is a group that helps people. It makes sure different groups are heard in the city's council. It also tries to remove anything that stops people from getting involved.
The Facts newspaper helps people see how changes can happen in Seattle. It also points out important needs. It works with the ideas of the Community Involvement Commission. The Facts focuses on the African-American community. It shows how this group can help Seattle grow and improve.
