The Washington Informer
The Washington Informer is a Black-owned, family-operated multi-platform news publication founded in 1964, serving the African-American community across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area through free digital content, weekly print editions, newsletters, sponsored financial literacy programming, and community civic events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Washington Informer does
The Washington Informer is a Black-owned, family-operated news publication founded in 1964 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark that serves the African-American community across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) metropolitan area. The publication operates as a multi-platform news organization with no paywall on its digital content, distributing free local journalism through its website (washingtoninformer.com), six distinct email newsletter products, a weekly print edition, and active social media channels on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. It is currently led by Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, continuing the founding family's stewardship across two generations.
The organization's product portfolio spans a daily news newsletter (WIN Daily), the JPMorganChase-sponsored Money Talk financial education series, community recognition programming (Best of The DMV), political coverage (Collins D.C. Council Report, DCision 2026 mayoral and delegate debates), video content (Let's Talk series, WIN TV Facebook Live broadcasts), and periodic themed supplements covering homeownership, health, sustainability, Black history, and the Congressional Black Caucus. The publication is built on the Newspack content management system, a WordPress-derived CMS, and operates an affiliated 501(c)(3) entity, Washington Informer Charities, which runs literacy programs including an annual Spelling Bee. Membership in the Word In Black national Black press network provides content syndication reach beyond the DMV.
The business model combines sustaining membership subscriptions at price points ranging from $16 to $240 annually, display and native advertising from enterprise sponsors (with JPMorganChase's Money Talk series as the flagship commercial relationship), tax-deductible donations routed through the 501(c)(3), and special edition publications serving as both editorial supplements and advertising platforms. The publication maintains editorial credibility through recurring partnerships with civic institutions including the DC Democratic State Committee, Washington Association of Black Journalists, Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce, Greater Washington Urban League, AARP D.C., League of Women Voters D.C., and the Public Welfare Foundation, which co-produce debate coverage, voter guides, and community roundtables. No external institutional investment, private equity, or venture capital backing is identified in the source materials.
The Washington Informer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Washington Informer
- Legal name
- Washington Informer Newspaper
- Website
- https://washingtoninformer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Washington Informer is a Black-owned, family-operated multi-platform news publication founded in 1964, serving the African-American community across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area through free digital content, weekly print editions, newsletters, sponsored financial literacy programming, and community civic events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Washington Informer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Community News Publishing
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB), Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ)
Keywords
Where The Washington Informer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Washington Informer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription and Membership: Sustaining member subscriptions at various price points ($16, $26, $36, $60, $120, $240 annually), providing readers access to ongoing independent local journalism.
- Advertising: The newspaper features sponsored content sections (Money Talk by JPMorganChase) and accepts display advertising from local and national advertisers targeting the DMV African-American demographic.
- Donations and Charitable Support: Accepts tax-deductible donations through Washington Informer Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on literacy programs in the DMV area.
- Special Edition Publications: Publishes themed supplements and special editions (Homeownership, Health, Sustainability, Black History Month, MLK Memorial, Spelling Bee) that may include sponsored content or serve as advertising platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustaining Member - One-time donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustaining Member - Monthly |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Member - Annual |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Member - Other |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Washington Informer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Washington Informer publishes a free local news service for the African-American community across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, delivered through a daily-updated website, weekly print editions (available as digital archives), multiple themed email newsletters, sponsored editorial series such as JPMorganChase Money Talk, community awards via Best of The DMV, political coverage through the Collins D.C. Council Report, and video programming (Let's Talk, WIN TV). It is supported by sustaining-membership subscriptions at $16–$240 annually, display and sponsored advertising, and tax-deductible donations routed through Washington Informer Charities.
Product overview
The Washington Informer is a Black-owned news publication serving the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area for over 60 years. The company operates as a multi-platform news organization offering a core daily digital presence through its website and email newsletters (WIN Daily), supplemented by weekly print editions available digitally. Its product portfolio includes community-focused content series like the JPMorganChase Money Talk financial education program, The Best of The DMV awards, and the Collins D.C. Council Report political coverage. The organization extends its reach through video content (Let's Talk series, WIN TV Facebook Live), special themed supplements published periodically, and the Washington Informer Charities 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on literacy programs including an annual spelling bee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Washington Informer Weekly Print Edition Weekly print newspaper delivering local news, politics, community coverage, and cultural content to the African-American community across the DMV, available by subscription and supported by display and sponsored advertising.
- Digital Editions Archive Online archive of The Washington Informer's weekly print edition covers and links to read the print publications digitally, extending print reach to online readers across the DMV.
- WIN Daily Newsletter Weekday email newsletter delivering the most recent stories from The Washington Informer to subscribers, providing daily news updates to African-American readers in the DMV.
- JPMorganChase Money Talk Financial Education Series Monthly sponsored financial education series presented in partnership with JPMorganChase, dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through tips and educational content for the African-American community.
- Best of The DMV Community Awards Community-choice voting and awards program recognizing the best businesses and services across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, with a companion keepsake store.
- Washington Informer Charities Literacy Programs 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with The Washington Informer that improves literacy among children and adults in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. area through innovative programs, scholarships, and community partnerships including the annual spelling bee.
- DCision 2026 Mayoral and Delegate Debate Programming Hosted political debate programming covering the D.C. mayoral and delegate races, co-produced with civic partners to drive civic engagement among DMV African-American voters.
- The Collins D.C. Council Report Deep-dive reporting series covering developments in the D.C. Council, legislation, and deliberations at the John A. Wilson Building for readers interested in D.C. local politics.
- WIN TV Video Programming Weekly Facebook Live and YouTube broadcasts featuring conversations with media figures and community leaders, supplementing The Washington Informer's written coverage.
- Special Edition Supplements Periodic themed publications covering Homeownership, Health, Sustainability, Black History Month, MLK Memorial, Congressional Black Caucus, Financial Literacy, and Spelling Bee topics, often featuring sponsored content for advertisers.
- Deals & Offers Newsletter Email newsletter providing exclusive perks, updates, and event offerings from Washington Informer partners to subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Provides news coverage to DMV African-American community with no paywall barriers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Washington Informer
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Washington Informer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Washington Informer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DC Democratic State CommitteecoreCo-host of DCision 2026 mayoral and delegate debates at George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium.
- Washington Association of Black JournalistscoreCo-host of DCision 2026 mayoral and delegate debates, bringing journalism expertise to political coverage.
- Greater Washington Black Chamber of CommercecoreCo-host of DCision 2026 debates, representing Black business community interests in political discourse.
- Greater Washington Urban LeaguecoreCo-host of DCision 2026 debates, ensuring civic engagement for the African-American community.
- Washington SpiritminorMedia partnership with Washington Spirit professional soccer team announced March 2026 for sports coverage and content collaboration.
- Word In BlackcoreCollaborative content partnership with Word In Black network for sharing and republishing Black journalism across multiple publications. The Washington Informer participates as a local affiliate, contributing content to and receiving content from the national Black press network.
- JPMorganChasecoreSponsor of Money Talk financial education series dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap. Monthly sponsored content covering financial literacy topics.
- Public Welfare FoundationminorSponsor of Real Safety D.C. education campaign and community roundtable discussions on public safety.
- AARP D.C.minorPartner in voter guide creation for seniors to help navigate ranked choice voting procedures.
- League of Women Voters D.C.minorCollaborated with AARP D.C. and D.C. Board of Elections to create voter guide for seniors on ranked choice voting.
- Washington GasminorSponsored content provider for articles on energy infrastructure, pipeline replacement, and sustainability initiatives.
- WaymominorCollaborated on autonomous vehicle policy discussion and conversation about AV deployment in D.C.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Washington Informer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atlanta Daily World: The Atlanta Daily World is a historic Black newspaper serving the Atlanta metro with print and digital editions. A direct peer in the same legacy Black-press category.
- Philadelphia Tribune: The Philadelphia Tribune is a historic Black newspaper serving the Philadelphia metro with print, digital, and event programming. Comparable in scale, mission, and community-anchored journalism.
- New York Amsterdam News: The New York Amsterdam News is a long-running Black newspaper in another major U.S. metro with a similar weekly print and digital model. Directly comparable in mission, audience, and product mix.
- Chicago Defender: The Chicago Defender is a historic Black newspaper serving a major U.S. metropolitan market with a comparable mix of print, digital, and community-event programming. Same legacy Black-press model and audience focus.
- AFRO-American Newspaper: The AFRO-American is a long-established Black newspaper covering the DMV and Baltimore region with similar print and digital editions. It is the most direct print-era peer to The Washington Informer in the same metropolitan Black press ecosystem.
Emerging players
- The Root: The Root is a national digital Black-culture and news outlet. It overlaps in Black audience focus but competes purely digitally and targets a broader national, younger reader.
- Blavity Inc. Blavity operates a portfolio of Black-focused digital media brands and an influencer network. It targets the same African-American audience via digital-first content and is a competitor for digital ad dollars.
Broad incumbents
- The Washington Post: The Washington Post is the dominant general-interest newspaper in D.C. with a much broader reach and paywall. It competes for advertiser attention and civic relevance in the same DMV market despite covering a fundamentally different audience.
Regional players
- Baltimore AFRO-American (Baltimore Sun): The Baltimore Sun is a regional metropolitan daily operating just outside the DMV. It shares the same mid-Atlantic news market and competes for advertisers and reporters in the region.
- Washington City Paper: Washington City Paper is an alternative weekly serving the D.C. metro, covering local politics, food, and culture. It competes in the same DMV market for readers and advertisers with a different editorial focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Washington Informer social profiles
Digital presenceThe Washington Informer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Washington Informer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Washington Informer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Washington Informer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Washington Informer
What does The Washington Informer do?
The Washington Informer publishes a free local news service for the African-American community across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, delivered through a daily-updated website, weekly print editions (available as digital archives), multiple themed email newsletters, sponsored editorial series such as JPMorganChase Money Talk, community awards via Best of The DMV, political coverage through the Collins D.C. Council Report, and video programming (Let's Talk, WIN TV). It is supported by sustaining-membership subscriptions at $16–$240 annually, display and sponsored advertising, and tax-deductible donations routed through Washington Informer Charities.
Is The Washington Informer a public or private company?
The Washington Informer is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Washington Informer founded?
The Washington Informer was founded in 1964. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Washington Informer based?
The Washington Informer is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Washington Informer make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription and Membership is the primary driver. The others are advertising, donations and Charitable Support and special Edition Publications.
Who are The Washington Informer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atlanta Daily World, Philadelphia Tribune, New York Amsterdam News, Chicago Defender and AFRO-American Newspaper. Emerging players are The Root and Blavity Inc.. The Washington Post is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Baltimore AFRO-American (Baltimore Sun) and Washington City Paper.
Does The Washington Informer have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Washington Informer.
What industry is The Washington Informer in?
The Washington Informer's product category is Local Community News Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAG, Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers, with a secondary code of MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2711.