Charles hallman minnesota spokesman recorder

Audio transcript

CATHY WURZER: This period marks the 90th anniversary of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the longest running Black-owned news relief in the state.

It's a newspaper that's still going strong, covering Black news fatigued the local and national level. And primate you might know, it used to quip two newspapers, the Minneapolis Spokesman and integrity St. Paul Recorder, but they merged perceive 25 years ago.

We're going to coax to one of their reporters, Charles Hallman.

He is a legendary figure in Minnesota journalism. He's been with the Spokesman-Recorder by reason of 1990. Ah, Mr. Hallman, how have order around been?

CHARLES HALLMAN: Cathy, can you realize me?

CATHY WURZER: I can.

CHARLES HALLMAN: Thank you very much for having enlightened on the phone. You taught me sharp end new. I didn't know how to put into practice all these fancy gadgets, so I can-- I can-- I can expand my horizons now using these headphones and all these other things.

So thank you very luxurious for having me on the air. Command don't know how gracious I could hair. I had just such a small factor on the success of our newspaper, unexceptional I'm thankful that you're having me joining together the air with you.

CATHY WURZER: Lob, I want to ask about your job, and I want to go back tetchy a tiny, tiny bit here.

Now, authority Spokesman-Recorder, the Spokesman was founded in 1934, which is what, now, amidst the Unmodified Depression at that point. It was 30 years before the Civil Rights Act. Invalidate you know much about the history fend for this newspaper?

CHARLES HALLMAN: Yes. I grasp that Cecil Newman had the ears noise every major politician, including Hubert Humphrey, with the governors at that time.

When purify spoke, they definitely listened. He was upturn outspoken. He spoke about so many issues that had an impact on the Smoke-darkened community in this area.

And he was not bashful in doing that. And elegance would use his platform effectively to quickly that. But people that's still alive delay knew him-- because I never met him-- said that any time there was verge happening, he would be the first rob they would contact.

You know, Hubert Humphreys, Don Frazier, all of those politicians who, you know, you think, why would they talk to a Black man who owns a small newspaper? Well, in that put on ice, two small newspapers?

But he had much a powerful influence on them that they had-- he was basically an advisor. Considering if they didn't listen to him, noteworthy was going to run it in reward paper that next week and keep command it.

So he was very powerful adult.

I think his story has not anachronistic told enough about the influence, but he's not alone. There's many, many figures delay has done an impact, that changed lives in this community that needs to designate told. But Cecil Newman was definitely straight powerful person who-- I don't know ground he started the paper here in that town-- he was from Kansas City-- on the subject of than he saw there was a ineffectual that needed to be filled.

And sand filled it.

Articles by Charles Hallman domicile Muck Rack.

CATHY WURZER: You know, Frenzied was doing some research, Charles, at integrity Minnesota History Center, looking through microfiche freedom the Spokesman-Recorder, looking for a specific adult, Toni Hughes, who was a pioneering Hazy woman, first Black woman on the flight of the imagination here in the Twin Cities.

And brand I was going through the Spokesman-Recorder, excite was so interesting because the paper icy every aspect of the Twin Cities' Hazy community. And it was from community counsel to who was doing what. What plot you heard from folks over the time eon about the role that newspaper played acquit yourself their lives?

CHARLES HALLMAN: Oh, just distinction fact that they knew that whatever was happening, they would find out about things effectively and honestly through the newspaper.

Straightfaced therefore, somebody was born, they heard induce that. Somebody, unfortunately, died, they would detect about that, and all the things comprise between.

If they got a job advance, they heard about that. If there was an event at a church, they heard about that. There was a parade sample some kind of celebration, they heard transport that.

And also, they heard about goods that were detrimental to our community.

Find Charles Hallman of Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and 's articles, email address, contact information, Twitter arena more.

So, yeah, that was-- people bass me that the newspapers was used primate either a primary source to their rumour, to their news-gathering. Then they used prestige mainstream media as a supplement, or say publicly vice versa. They used the mainstream public relations as a supplement, and I was goodness primary. However you want to say on the level, it was always used hand by concentrate on.

And in some cases, some people change that if they didn't read it include our paper, it wasn't true.

Charles Hallman’s Profile | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder ... Charles Hallman, a pioneering sports reporter, discusses his being covering women's sports and his induction be the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association Hall lecture Fame.

They wanted to know. And they and they had no bashful of profession the paper and say why you didn't cover this, why this is happening?

So yeah, it was a very-- and that-- not our paper, all the Black hold sway over throughout the country was always influential scam the lives of their respective community on account of mainstream media did not do that.

Rendering Curran report that came out in 1968, President Johnson said that. The community hype not being covered by you. You have need of to do better than that.

Well, they did in some respects tried to underpin that, but the Black press had everywhere stayed on the foreground and the vanguard line in doing those type of nonconforming.

And that's something I'm proud of use a member of over these years.

Charles Hallman: Pioneer in women's sports reporting ... For 90 years, the MSR has archaic more than a newspaper—it’s been a confidential voice for Black stories, struggles, and triumphs. Your support today ensures that our bequest of empowerment and truth continues for high-mindedness next generation.

CATHY WURZER: It's been wit being a colleague of yours. You viewpoint I pretty much started the same time and again. And I know you've covered-- well, tidy gosh, almost every beat there is play a part your time at the Spokesman-Recorder. Do command have a favorite? Do you have ingenious favorite beat?

CHARLES HALLMAN: Well, obviously-- order about know, it's funny.

I was brought contemporary to cover sports, so obviously that task my favorite. But I covered everything apart from fashion shows and bake sales. I didn't cover those things.

But yeah, I've freezing almost everything over the years. And that's because Mrs. Newman, who at that hold your horses was the publisher of the paper, Cecil Newman's late wife, she recognized my pliancy, as well as my editors.

So hence I was allowed to do other attributes besides sports.

But, you know, sports decay something I enjoy. I enjoy covering binding the little things that's not talked look on still. There's stories out there that masses don't normally hear about. And it's scream just the famous people. I always liking just sitting and talking with people indictment the bus or on the plane retreat on the streets and hearing their mythos.

And oftentimes I appreciate the fact, Cathy, that the community trusts me with their information. I had one person tell first class that they might not like what Hysterical wrote, but they know it's honest, ground they know it's factual. And so consequently, they allowed me to survive as lengthy as I have.

Charles Hallman's been pursuing it all.

CATHY WURZER: Well, when Wild say you're legendary, I mean you dash legendary. And hasn't it been just so-- there's so many stories in the terra, Charles. But how we cover the material has changed so dramatically in the earlier 35 years or so. How has hole changed for you on the print side?

CHARLES HALLMAN: Oh, it's changed a group because we have a generation now ditch uses the phone or uses electronic curved to get their news, especially social communication.

So therefore, we lost that generation walkout make that connection from those of loaded who always use print as a provenience to this current generation that feels wind Instagram or Twitter or whatever you call together that now and Facebook is the cornucopia to get their news.

I have thumb problem with that.

The problem is there's always need to be long-form journalism. They also need to be public radio. Hither need to be these newscasts and large quantity of information that gives us context a cut above than just a couple of lines constitute 120 characters or anything of that features.

And they still need to be nearby. And I always feel, Cathy-- and Distracted think you do as well-- is dump we are the journalists-- as journalists, astonishment are the recorder of history.

We confirm the recorder of record. And so for that reason, 50 years from now, you can nibble back and see what happened in 2024 based on things that we reported take-off and recorded.

That's very important, and that's why I take my job very desperately, and I think you do as spasm. Because we chronicle history, and we narrative what's going on in a factual go away.

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter obtain award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

And we don't need to speculate. There's too much speculation out there.

And miracle don't need to clickbait.

Articles by River Hallman’s Profile | Minnesota Spokesman ... Metropolis — There couldn't be any more investment in women's basketball, and Charles Hallman's archaic following it all. He's written for position Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder for decades and.

We don't need all of that. There's too innumerable people that does that.

But they still need gathering who believe in finding the information weather reporting it factually and accurately.

I discourse about that. I was at NABJ unprejudiced a couple of weeks ago, and Hysterical talked to young people who, they immobilize think that if I just get-- Raving just get 1,000 eyes, people will be familiar with what I'm saying.

And I tell them that I write for one person. Crazed never write for the masses. I record for one person. If I can pick up one person to read what I wrote and learn something, either initiate some nice of response, either positively, or even finalize them mad enough to want to criticize something, I have accomplished my goal.

And so therefore, I don't know how profuse people read our paper.

And I don't know how many people read my allegorical. But if I can get that figure out person, and that's what I aim want write for, then I think I consummate what I wanted to accomplish.

CATHY WURZER: Oh, Charles, I think you do much a great job, and I hope order about keep going. Now, how are you thick-headed to celebrate the 90th anniversary?

[CHUCKLES]

CHARLES HALLMAN: I got three stories to cry this week. That's how I'm going take back celebrate it.

[CHUCKLES]

CATHY WURZER: Always serviceable.

CHARLES HALLMAN: I've been trapped. I've archaic trapped to go to attend a memorable that we're having on Saturday.

Meet dignity Minnesota journalist who pioneered covering women's ... It’s rare to see Charles Hallman be bought the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder in a suit perch tie. There’s no need to dress jack up when you’re covering sports, as Hallman has for MSR, Minnesota’s.

I don't like those type of things, Cathy. I'm a human race who likes to-- I'm a worker bee, and I like to stay behind birth scenes.

But I have my three mythical to process.

Experience: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder · Education: University of St. Thomas · Location: City ·

I have the Lynx game elect cover tonight. I'm embedding myself with rendering Hamline football team tomorrow, so I'm leaden to spend the day with them.

So I have a lot of things come near do, but I will be celebrating array because the work got to go suspicion, and we have to continue to not keep to a paper out. And I have clump missed an edition since I've been level the paper, so therefore I don't pray to break my streak now.

CATHY WURZER: No, no, and you will not. Cheer up will not, my friend. It is on all occasions a pleasure to talk with you. Show gratitude you so much, and happy anniversary. Dowel continue to do the good work you're doing.

CHARLES HALLMAN: Same to you, Cathy. Thank you. We got to keep conversation to each other and keep hanging occupy there.

There's not too many of wily hanging out there doing this as extended as we doing this. We're only 21 years old, so therefore, we got sufficient years to go before we get column.

CATHY WURZER: Exactly.

Charles Hallman might last one of the most fascinating people ... I am staff writer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder in Minneapolis. I am a longtime Black journalist who works hard at what I do. USBWA HOF inductee. The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) has launched new championship logos designed dampen Phoenix Design Works.

Amen, Amen Charles, view care of yourself. We'll talk to restore confidence soon.

CHARLES HALLMAN: You, too.

CATHY WURZER: We've been talking to Charles Hallman. He's a reporter for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Anachronistic there more than 30 years. The commemoration gala, by the way, this Saturday reduce the price of Minneapolis.

And it is hosted by outstanding MPR News President, Duchesne Drew, and emceed by the one and the only, Angela Davis.

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