Bay State Banner suspends publication as revenue falls
The Bay State Banner, which has been bringing news and community tidbits to Boston’s African-American community for 44 years, is abruptly suspending publication because of declining advertising revenue.
Publisher and editor Melvin B. Miller said the suspension is because of “financial reasons,’’ but he declined to say how long the paper would be shuttered. He said he had “been working on things’’ to prevent shutdown, but declined to elaborate.
“It’s totally a blow to the community,’’ said Jimmy Myers, a host at radio station WTKK-FM and a popular personality in Boston’s black community. The paper “is a staple to the community. It’s the sign of the tough economic times. I think it’s tragic.’’
The Boston Phoenix quoted Miller in an online report last night as saying he is trying to find investors and other supporters to help keep the weekly paper publishing. In particular, Miller told the Phoenix that he hoped “a younger generation’’ would step up and run the newspaper.
The Globe reported in March that the Bay State Banner so far had managed to escape one of the most visible consequences of the downturn affecting the newspaper industry: cutting news content by reducing the number of pages in each edition. 