What Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper does

The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper is a privately held media publishing company founded in 1895 in Indianapolis, Indiana, operating as Indiana's longest-running African American newspaper. The company produces a flagship weekly newspaper serving Indianapolis' Black community with coverage spanning local news, arts and culture, business, education, health, religion, sports, politics, and community voices, reaching over 120,000 weekly readers across print, web, social media, and audio platforms. Its product portfolio includes the core weekly newspaper, an E-Edition digital replica, the Recorder On Air Report (ROAR) audio segments, the Indiana Minority Business Magazine (a wholly-owned subsidiary under Recorder Media Group), the Minority Business Review national publication, the JAWS youth journalism training program, and the Recorder Media Group services platform offering advertising, press releases, social media management, graphic design, video production, and event planning. The Recorder Media Group, founded in 2010 by Shannon Williams, serves as the integrated media services umbrella unifying these offerings under President & CEO Robert Shegog (appointed 2018).

The company's underlying technology consists of a digital-first content platform with a mobile-optimized website, social media integration across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and multimedia storytelling capabilities including video and podcast production. The technology stack relies on third-party integrations: SimpleCirc for subscription management, DoubleClick for programmatic advertising, Google Translate for localization, and Jetpack for site search. No proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or developer platforms are documented.

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: recurring digital and print subscriptions priced at $8/month or $72/year (digital-only), $19.50/6 months or $39/year (print-only), and $60/6 months or $88/year (print+digital combination); print and digital advertising sold to local businesses, national brands, nonprofits, and government agencies; and professional media services including press releases, editorial content, social media management, graphic design, video production, event planning, and direct mail. Go-to-market is sales-led (subscription and advertising sales) supplemented by community-led engagement through events, townhalls, and the JAWS youth program, with active participation at community events and partnerships with civic organizations. Customer segments span individual readers/subscribers (primary), local businesses and nonprofits (advertising), and government agencies (public service communications), all centered on Indiana's African American community.

Name

Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper

Legal name

Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper

Website

https://indianapolisrecorder.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper is a 130-year-old weekly African American newspaper serving Indiana's Black community with local news, multimedia content, advertising, and media services via Recorder Media Group, reaching over 120,000 weekly readers across print, digital, and audio platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Community Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB), Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers (MPAJADAC)

Keywords

• Community newspaper publishing
• Local news media
• Print and digital subscriptions
• Multimedia journalism
• Advertising sales services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Monthly and annual digital-only subscriptions providing unlimited access to online content, e-editions, and digital archives.
2. Print Subscriptions: Weekly print edition delivered to subscribers, available in six-month and annual subscription terms.
3. Print and Digital Advertising: Advertising packages sold to businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies across print, web, social media, newsletters, and programmatic platforms.
4. Media Services: Additional services including press releases, editorial content, social media management, graphic design, video production, event planning, and direct mail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper is a community newspaper publishing company that produces a weekly print edition and a digital news platform covering local news, sports, arts and culture, business, health, education, politics, religion, and opinion content primarily for Indiana's African American community. It also sells advertising across print, web, social media, newsletters, and programmatic platforms to local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies through its Recorder Media Group platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indiana Minority Business Magazine: Contemporary publication under Recorder Media Group focusing on minority business coverage, directories, and economic development news in Indiana.

Products and services

• Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper
• E-Edition
• Indiana Minority Business Magazine
• Recorder On Air Report (ROAR)
• Minority Business Review
• Recorder Media Group Services
• Journalism and Writing Seminars (JAWS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 120,000 weekly readers across platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cradle IndyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership to cover maternal and infant health initiatives in Marion County. The Recorder reports on Cradle Indy's community impact, including connecting 226 families with services and establishing partnerships with over 50 organizations.
• Indiana Minority Business MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Minority Business Magazine operates under the Recorder Media Group umbrella alongside the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, offering complementary coverage of minority business issues and expanding the group's reach into business-focused journalism.
• Marion County Public Health DepartmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on health reporting and community wellness coverage, particularly around infant mortality and maternal health issues.
• JUST Community Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in maternal and infant health initiatives, contributing to community resource coordination.
• Nurse-Family PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partnership supporting maternal and infant health reporting and community outreach.
• The Bridge ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization partner in health initiatives and resource coordination.
• Indianapolis Jazz FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Indy Jazz Fest coverage and cultural event promotion.
• Indianapolis Arts CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership supporting Art & Soul program celebrating Black art and music in Indianapolis for 30 years.
• IBJ MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Indiana 250 List identifying most influential leaders and joint coverage of business and civic topics.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Defender: One of the most recognized historic African American newspapers in the U.S., serving the Black community in Chicago with weekly print and digital editions. Direct peer given shared ethnic-focused community news model, subscription + advertising revenue model, and multi-decade heritage.
• Philadelphia Tribune: The oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the United States, serving the Philadelphia Black community with print and digital editions. Direct peer given identical ethnic-community publishing model, weekly print cadence, and similar subscription/advertising revenue mix.
• The St. Louis American: A leading African American weekly newspaper serving the St. Louis metropolitan Black community with print, digital, and event-driven journalism. Direct peer given shared metro-level ethnic publishing model and diversified media services offering.
• The Atlanta Daily World: Historic African American newspaper serving the Atlanta Black community, with deep civil-rights era roots and ongoing weekly/digital publishing. Direct peer given shared historic AA newspaper identity, weekly print + digital model, and similar community advocacy orientation.
• The Afro-American Newspaper: Long-running African American newspaper serving Baltimore/Washington DC Black communities with weekly print and digital editions. Direct peer given shared multi-generational AA newspaper heritage, weekly print cadence, and subscription/advertising business model.
• Pittsburgh Courier: One of the most prominent historic African American newspapers, serving the Pittsburgh Black community. Direct peer given comparable ethnic-focused community newspaper model, heritage of investigative reporting, and print + digital revenue model.
• The Dallas Examiner: African American weekly newspaper serving the Dallas Black community through print, digital, and community programming. Direct peer given shared weekly ethnic-focused publishing model and multi-platform audience reach strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Indianapolis Star (Gannett): The dominant daily newspaper in the Indianapolis metropolitan market, owned by national chain Gannett. Broad incumbent — overlaps the Recorder in Indianapolis local news coverage but does not specifically target the African American community, and operates at much larger scale.
• IBJ Media: Indianapolis Business Journal — the leading regional business publication in Indianapolis, with which the Recorder has a documented partnership (Indiana 250 List). Broad incumbent — serves the same Indianapolis market but with a B2B/business focus rather than ethnic-community focus.

Regional players

• Milwaukee Community Journal: African American weekly newspaper serving the Milwaukee Black community, with print and digital editions. Regional peer given shared ethnic-community publishing model and weekly print cadence, but operates in a different Midwestern metro without direct Indianapolis competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/indyrecorder
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/indianapolisrecorder/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/IndyRecorder
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indianapolis-recorder-newspaper
• Instagraminstagram.com/indyrecorder

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper