The Afro American Newspaper

What The Afro American Newspaper does

The Afro American Newspaper (legal entity: The Black Media Authority) is a privately held, family-owned Black media company founded in 1892 by John H. Murphy, Sr., operating continuously for 133+ years. Headquartered in Baltimore with a secondary office in Washington, D.C., it serves Black communities across the mid-Atlantic region (Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Prince George's County) through a digital-first news platform at afro.com, print editions, and a network of community-facing products. The company reports 51-100 employees and brands itself as "The Black Media Authority."

The core product is a local-to-regional news publication covering Baltimore, Washington D.C., Prince George's County, national and international news, sports, arts & entertainment, business, and opinion, with a dedicated civic engagement hub (AFRO Votes). Underlying technology is a standard Newspack-powered content management system with subscription paywall, e-commerce, and event ticketing functionality — no proprietary technology stack is disclosed. Ancillary products include AFRO Mall (e-commerce merchandise storefront), AFROtix (event ticketing), a free daily eBlast newsletter with 35,000+ subscribers, and the AFRO Votes voter education initiative.

Revenue is generated across five streams: digital and print subscriptions (tiered at $40/year digital-only, $100/year print+digital annual, $10/month print+digital monthly), recurring monthly donations through givebutter.com/AFRO133 ($5/$13/$33 monthly tiers plus one-time gifts), display advertising, corporate event sponsorships (notably the annual Juneteenth Breakfast), and merchandise sales via AFRO Mall. Distribution is omnichannel: afro.com, print mail delivery, email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), and community events (AFRAM festival, Juneteenth). The company participates in the Word In Black collaborative content network alongside other Black-owned newspapers.

Name

The Afro American Newspaper

Legal name

The Black Media Authority

Website

https://afro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Afro American Newspaper is a 133-year-old, family-owned Black media publication serving Black communities in the mid-Atlantic. It operates digital and print news via afro.com, subscription products, e-commerce, event ticketing, and civic engagement under The Black Media Authority brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJADAG

Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/News Publishing (Newspapers, Digital Newsrooms, Wire Services)

SECONDARYMPAJADAA

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/News Publishing (Newspapers, Digital Newsrooms, Wire Services)

Keywords

• Black community journalism
• African American news
• Digital news subscription
• Community news publishing
• Multicultural media

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Annual digital subscriptions providing full website access, digital content, partner discounts, and email briefs.
2. Print Subscriptions: Combined print and digital annual subscriptions with additional benefits including exclusive virtual event access, AFRO products, partner discounts, and annual web/social announcements.
3. Print Monthly Subscription: Monthly print and digital subscription option for flexible access.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through official partner site givebutter.com/AFRO133. Monthly donation tiers ($5, $13, $33/month) supporting newsroom operations, community reporting initiatives, and journalist training.
5. Advertising: Display advertising and sponsorship opportunities on afro.com and in print editions.
6. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events such as Juneteenth Breakfast, with sponsors including Associated Black Charities, BGE, GBMC, Roland Park Place, and SECU.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Afro American Newspaper is a Black-owned news publication founded in 1892 that delivers culturally relevant journalism to African American communities across the Mid-Atlantic region. It operates a digital news platform (afro.com), a print newspaper, paid subscriptions (digital, print+digital annual/monthly), a free email newsletter, an e-commerce merchandise store (AFRO Mall), and a community events platform (AFROtix). The publication covers Baltimore, Washington D.C., Prince George's County, national, international, sports, arts and entertainment, business, and opinion content.

Product overview

AFRO American Newspapers is a Black-owned news media organization that has been publishing for over 133 years. The company operates a digital-first news platform (afro.com) with both free and subscription-based access to news content covering national news, international news, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Prince George's County, sports, arts & entertainment, business, and opinion. The product portfolio includes subscription offerings (Digital Annual at $40/year, Print & Digital Annual at $100/year, Print & Digital Monthly at $10/month), the AFRO Mall e-commerce store, the AFRO Events ticketing platform (AFROtix), a free newsletter with 35,000+ subscribers, the AFRO Votes election coverage hub, and the Word In Black collaborative content network. The organization is powered by Newspack.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFRO Mall: E-commerce marketplace for Black-owned products and merchandise
• AFRO Events

Products and services

• AFRO American Newspapers (afro.com) A digital and print news publication serving Black communities, providing coverage on national, international, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Prince George's County, sports, arts and entertainment, business, and opinion content.
• Digital Annual Subscription Full access to afro.com plus digital content and partner discounts for $40/year, targeting individual readers seeking online-only access.
• Print & Digital Annual Subscription Full access to afro.com plus print editions, email briefs, AFRO products, exclusive virtual event access, partner discounts, and annual web/social announcements for $100/year.
• Print & Digital Monthly Subscription Full access to afro.com plus both digital and print editions, email briefs, AFRO products, exclusive virtual event access, partner discounts, and annual web/social announcements for $10/month.
• AFRO Mall An online merchandise store featuring AFRO-branded apparel, accessories, and swag products for purchase by readers and supporters.
• AFRO Events / AFROtix An event ticketing platform for AFRO-sponsored community events and gatherings, including the AFRAM festival and Juneteenth celebrations.
• AFRO Newsletter (Daily eBlast) A free daily e-blast newsletter delivering the latest news on Black communities, with over 35,000+ subscribers.
• AFRO Votes An election coverage hub providing voter registration tools, candidate endorsements, election calendars, and voting information for Maryland and D.C. elections.
• Word In Black A collaborative content network with other Black-owned media outlets, amplifying Black journalism across multiple platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of only 200+ year old Black newspapers in America, with documented impact on community engagement and civic participation

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• givebutter.com/AFRO133coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial donation platform partner for tax-deductible contributions to support AFRO's mission. Donors can contribute through givebutter.com/AFRO133.
• Associated Black CharitiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AFRO's fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast 'Stewards of Legacy' event at Baltimore Museum of Industry.
• BGEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AFRO's fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast event.
• GBMCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AFRO's fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast event.
• Roland Park PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AFRO's fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast event.
• SECUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of AFRO's fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast. SECU Maryland's James Toby Smith emphasized company's commitment to illuminating predatory practices and leading by example in the industry.
• SECUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Associated Black Charities' Teen Financial Literacy Summit, providing starter deposits for attendees to open financial accounts.
• Word In BlackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFRO participates in Word In Black consortium, a partnership of Black-owned newspapers for expanded content sharing and Black media advocacy.
• NewspackcoreTechnology or IntegrationAFRO's website is powered by Newspack, an open-source publishing platform for news organizations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New York Amsterdam News: Historic African American newspaper serving the New York Black community with local news, opinion, and features. Comparable regional-heritage Black newspaper brand with a similar community-serving editorial mission and digital evolution.
• Chicago Defender: One of the most prominent historic African American newspapers in the United States, now operating in digital and event formats serving Black communities. Highly comparable to AFRO as a legacy Black-owned newspaper brand transitioning to a multi-product community media model.
• The Philadelphia Tribune: The oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the U.S., serving a regional Black community with print, digital, and event products. Closely comparable to AFRO in heritage, mission, and product mix.
• Atlanta Daily World: Long-running African American newspaper covering the Atlanta metro Black community with digital and print products. Comparable as a regional Black-media brand serving a specific mid-to-large Black population.
• Los Angeles Sentinel: African American newspaper serving the Los Angeles Black community with coverage of local news, politics, and culture. Directly comparable as a heritage Black community newspaper with a city-level geographic focus.
• The Sacramento Observer: Family-owned African American newspaper serving the Sacramento region, with a similar operating profile and community-news focus. Comparable in scope and ownership model to AFRO's mid-Atlantic community newspaper.
• Houston Defender: African American newspaper serving the Houston Black community with local news, opinion, and community programming. Comparable as a heritage regional Black newspaper targeting a single major metro market.

Broad incumbents

• Blavity: A digital media company focused on Black culture and millennials, with a portfolio of editorial brands and a Creator Network. Comparable as a multi-product Black-focused media brand, but operating at digital scale rather than legacy print.
• The Root: Digital publication covering Black news, culture, and politics under G/O Media. Comparable as a Black-targeted editorial brand competing for the same audience and advertiser dollars, but with broader national reach and digital-first infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Word In Black: A collaborative content network of Black-owned newspapers that AFRO participates in, designed to expand reach and amplify Black media voices. Comparable as a peer network participant and indirect competitor for digital Black-media audience share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afronews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo2hnk-qLYbxBm3emXrm-sQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfroAmericanNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/394502
• Instagraminstagram.com/afronews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Afro American Newspaper