The ABC Localish micro-documentary featuring the reimagining of Amsterdam News, has been nominated for an Emmy in the Informational / Instructional category for Short or Long Form Content. The short spotlights the historic Harlem headquarters as a future national center celebrating the impact of the Black press, journalists, and publishers on American history. In the film, Publisher Elinor Tatum reflects on the newsroom's legacy, from its coverage of the Central Park Five case to decades of telling stories through the lens of its community, while Amsterdam News Educational Foundation CEO Siobhan Bennett speaks to the sacrifices that have kept the family-owned paper alive. As Tatum shares, the project is "a way to preserve all of that and to tell the story of Black New York at the same time."
Founded by James H. Anderson in December, 1909, The New York Amsterdam News is one of the oldest and most influential Black newspapers in the United States. Since its inception, the newspaper has been a cornerstone of Black journalism and advocacy. The paper was founded in Andersen’s home on West 165th Street, “with six sheets of paper, a lead pencil and a dressmaker’s table, 5x4 feet.”
AYON Studio, in collaboration with Jerome Haferd Studio, is working with the Amsterdam News Educational Foundation to restore and reimagine the newspaper's four-story masonry headquarters building on Frederick Douglass Blvd., which stands near the historic Apollo Theater. Still occupied by the paper, the site retains much of its historic character but is in need of critical restoration and modernization to support its continued use as a historical and cultural resource.
Like its predecessors, it has played an essential role in Harlem’s cultural and political life. For nearly a century, this headquarters has been more than a newspaper office—it has been a beacon of information, activism, and community support. From publishing Malcolm X’s writings to advocating for the Exonerated Five, The New York Amsterdam News has been at the forefront of racial justice journalism. Today, it remains a trusted source for New York City’s Black and Brown communities. In 2006, the property was deemed eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, recognizing its significance in American journalism and civil rights history.
Supported by the Mellon Foundation's "Humanities in Place" program, the project honors the paper's past while preparing it for future generations as a hub of culture, education, and advocacy.