>> WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

TONIGHT, THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND THE NEW BAY STATE FAIR.

NEXT MONTH MARKS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

IN AUGUST 1963, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZERS, INCLUDING THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., LED THE MARCH FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM, DRAWING A NONVIOLENT CROWD OF 250,000.

REVEREND KING DELIVERED HIS NOW ICONIC "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH, AND THE MARCH HELPED PASS THE HISTORIC 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, WHICH INSPIRED A BOSTON BUSINESSMAN WHO FOUND "THE BAYSTATE NEWSPAPER."

MILLER AS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER LED "THE BANNER" UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN HE SOLD IT TO THE BOSTON-BASED BLACK-OWNED MEDIA GROUP MITCHELL STARK ENTERPRISES.

A LOOK BACK AND A LOOK FORWARD TO A MARCH TO THE FUTURE BY A LOCAL BLACK INSTITUTION.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION, RONALD MITCHELL, CO-OWNER, EDITOR, AND PUBLISHER OF "THE BAYSTATE BANNER."

ANDRE STARK, CO-OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF "THE BAYSTATE BANNER," AND THE OWNER OF MILL CITIES INVESTMENT.

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON'’S FULL NAME IS MARCH FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM -- THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM.

THINKING OF IT IN THAT CONTEXT AND LOOKING BACK TO NOW FROM 60 YEARS, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT THIS ANNIVERSARY MEANS?

>> IT IS A WONDERFUL ANNIVERSARY TO REMIND US WHAT BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN OUR STRUGGLE FOR EMPOWERMENT, BUT IT ALSO REMINDS US WE HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY LONG WAY TO GO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE THE BALANCE OF ECONOMIC AND EQUAL JUSTICE IS IN OUR SOCIETY.

>> YOU SAID THAT YOUR MOM, WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, TOOK YOU TO A MARCH HERE IN BOSTON WITH REVEREND KING.

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

SHE REVEALED THAT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE MARCHING BY THE YOU, AND SHE HAD ME BY THE HAND AND MY SISTER IN A CARRIAGE, AND SHE SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO HER IN HER LIFE.

SHE WAS FROM BARBADOS.

THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ICONIC MOMENTS IN HER LIFETIME, BESIDES HAVING US, OF COURSE.

SHE SAID SHE HAD A GREAT TIME.

SHE GOT TO MEET HIM.

SHE GOT TO MEET MISS IS KING.

SHE SAID SHE WISHED I WAS OLDER SO I COULD EXPERIENCE IT THE WAY SHE DID.

>> YOU ARE OLDER NOW.

>> I THINK IT IS AND ICONIC MOMENT AND IT TELLS US AS PUBLISHERS OF A PAPER HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO PROMOTE OURSELVES TO REACH LIMITS THAT WE HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN TO SEE YET.

IT REALLY INSPIRES US TO WORK HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED IN THE UPLIFT FROM THAT SPEECH.

>> HMM.

GLENN, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ARC OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

WE WOULD ADD WHAT I WOULD CALL IT POINT OF OWNERSHIP.

THAT REALLY IS IN THIS SOCIETY SO VITAL.

>> AGAIN, IT WAS JOBS AND FREEDOM.

REVEREND KING WAS ON A MISSION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE, SO THAT WAS PART OF THE MARCH AT THAT TIME.

THAT MAKES A PERFECT LINKAGE TO OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT NEW OWNERSHIP OF "THE BAYSTATE BANNER," BUT I WANTED TO PUT THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THERE WERE 40 BLACK NEWSPAPERS AT THE TIME.

TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 200.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF ON THE SPECTRUM OF THOSE NEWSPAPERS AND BEING THE NEW OWNERS OF "THE BAYSTATE BANNER?"

WE WILL GET TO HAVE YOU GOT TO BE THERE, BUT OVERALL, THINKING OF YOURSELF AS PART OF THAT GROUP.

>> IT IS AN HONOR TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP BECAUSE AS GLENN WAS MENTIONING, OWNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS BLACK PEOPLE TO TELL OUR STORIES AND BE IN CHARGE OF OUR MESSAGE.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF YOUR MESSAGE, IT ALWAYS GETS CO-OPTED.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US IS TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND OWNERSHIP IS THE KEY.

DESPITE HOW MUCH THEY TELL YOU, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY ENCOURAGE YOU, WE WILL DO YOUR STUFF, YOU CAN BE PART OF OURS, WHEN YOU OWN IT, YOU CAN CONTROL IT.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT JOURNALISM IS, TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR PEOPLE.

>> ONE OF THE THREE TENETS OF THE PAPER WE WANT TO FOCUS ON -- >> BEFORE YOU GO THERE, I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU SEE THE PAPER FITTING IN IN THIS 200-PLUS BLACK-OWNED NEWSPAPERS AT THIS MOMENT.

>> I THINK IT IS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I SEE PEOPLE COMING UP TO ME ALL THE TIME TELLING ME HOW MUCH THEY WANT "THE BANNER."

I HAD SOMEONE TELLING ME NOBODY BUYS ANYTHING FROM HIS STORE UNLESS "THE BANNER" IS THERE.

I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

I WENT TO BROCKTON.

SOMEBODY SAID, CAN YOU BRING SOME PAPERS DOWN?

WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

IT IS A VITAL RESOURCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VITAL RESOURCE PAST WHEN WE ARE GONE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

THEY DON'’T TRUST SOME OF THE LOCAL OUTLETS, AND THAT GIVES US INCENTIVE TO CARRY ON.

>> MILLVILLE HAS BUILT QUITE A LEGACY OF TRUST.

>> TRUST IS KEY.

IT IS TOP OF THE LIST IN TERMS OF CONTENT.

EVEN DOWN TO THE GRAPHIC DESIGN, MELT AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB REPRESENTING US WELL AND REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY.

>> LET'’S START WITH YOU, ON THE PATH TO NEW OWNERSHIP.

AS WE SAID, MEL WAS THERE NEARLY 60 YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND, GLENN LLOYD, YOU HAD A HAND IN GETTING RUN MITCHELL TO THINK ABOUT BEING THE NEW OWNER OF "THE BAYSTATE BANNER."

>> QUIET HAND.

WE DON'’T LIKE TO PUBLICIZE IT TOO MUCH.

IN MY NEW POSITION, RUNNING A COMMUNITY-OWNED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE HOW CAPITAL CAN BE PUT TO USE IN A GOOD WAY.

THIS WAS A COMPLICATED DEAL.

IT WAS AN ACQUISITION.

YOU HAD A FOUNDER WHO HAD TO BE PROPERLY SUCCEEDED.

AS WE KNOW, THOSE WERE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

WE WERE ABLE TO PULL INTO OUR TOOLBOX THE RIGHT TYPE OF CAPITAL TO MAKE THIS ACQUISITION WORK TO A POINT WHERE -- YOU KNOW, NEWSPAPERS NEED A LITTLE EXTRA BUFFER, TOO, RUNNING OUT OF THE GATE.

FOR TEAM PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE RAISING CAPITAL, WHICH DOES NOT OFTEN GET TALKED ABOUT.

IT WAS REALLY A TEAM EFFORT THAT MADE THIS ACQUISITION COME TO FRUITION.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF EXPLANATION BECAUSE THE DEAL HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY YOU AS YOUR FIRST EQUITY DEAL, AND I'’M NOT SURE MANY OF US KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

IF YOU COULD GIVE US ONE SENTENCE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> ONE SENTENCE.

THERE'’S TYPICALLY TWO TYPES OF CAPITAL.

WE KNOW DEBT LIKE YOUR MORTGAGES THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ON TIME.

>> THAT THE LOANS AND STUFF.

>> THAT THE LOANS AND STUFF.

EQUITY IS A LITTLE MORE UNIQUE WHERE WE BECOME PARTNERS OF OWNERSHIP WITH THE TEAM.

WE SIT BESIDE THE OWNER WITH WHAT WE CALL VERY PATIENT CAPITAL.

THIS TYPE OF DEAL HAS BOTH EQUITY AND DEBT TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

RON, YOU WERE NOT PLANNING TO BUY A NEWSPAPER.

YOU WERE PLANNING TO RETIRE.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THE PURCHASE?

>> WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, WHEN IT CAME INTO MY CONVERSATIONS WITH GLENN THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING I SHOULD THINK ABOUT, I HAD SPENT 20 YEARS AT WBZ BOSTON TV CHANNEL FOUR.

I WAS ONE OF THE FOLKS WHO REALLY THOUGHT FOR STORIES OF COLOR FOR MANY YEARS IN THE BEGINNING.

I FIRST GOT THERE, THERE WERE A LOT OF BLACK REPORTERS.

I WON'’T GO THROUGH ALL THE NAMES, BUT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW.

ONCE THE 1990'’S HAPPENED, A LOT OF THEM LEFT.

A LOT OF THEM AGED OUT, TRANSFERRED TO OTHER STATIONS, MOVED UP THE NETWORK CHAIN, AND IT REALLY DID NOT -- THERE WAS NOT AS MUCH MOTIVATION TO DO STORIES OF COLOR IN THE WAY THAT I FELT WAS IMPACTFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF THE BROADCAST STATIONS WERE FOR IF IT BLEEDS IT LEADS DRAMA.

IF YOU DO A STORY TO GET THE MOST AMOUNT OF >> OR THE BIGGEST RESPONSE, YOU ALTER THAT STORY -- IF YOU DO A STORY TO GET THE MOST AMOUNT OF CLICKS.

IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME I WAS NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING ABLE TO DO THE TYPE OF STORIES I FELT MORE POWERFUL FOR MY COMMUNITY.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME THAT "THE BANNER" HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU HAVE THE NETWORK, THE SKILLS, THE VISION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALL THOSE COMBINATIONS.

WHEN YOU PURCHASE A COMPANY LIKE "THE BANNER," YOU WANT TO GROW IT.

YOU NEED TO HAVE CAPITAL TO GROW IT IN A WAY THAT YOU ARE NOT INSTANTLY PAYING BACK FOR THAT CAPITAL.

THAT IS A HARD THING.

A LOT OF OTHER PAPERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY BLACK PAPERS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT TRANSITION, EVERYBODY SEES NEWSPAPERS ARE DYING, IT IS A DYING INDUSTRY, AND THEY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING CAPITAL.

IT IS TRUE YOU HAVE TO TRANSITION TO ONLINE, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I FELT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY I AM A GUY FROM BOSTON AND BEING IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR SO LONG.

>> MISSION WAS THERE AND ALSO CAPABILITY BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU HAD A SIMILAR BACKGROUND, DIFFERENT FROM RON'’S, BUT YOU HAVE DONE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING.

IN FACT, YOU OWNED A MEDIA COMPANY BEFORE YOU TWO GOT TOGETHER.

FOR YOU, WHAT WAS THE DRIVING FORCE IN BEING PART OF THIS?

>> I ACTUALLY CUT MY TEETH ON THIS PROGRAM WGBH -- AT WGBH.

IT WAS MY FIRST FORAY INTO FACTUAL MEDIA IS WHAT I CALL IT, AND I ALWAYS STAYED IN THAT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.

I SAW THE SAME PEOPLE BACK EVERY YEAR.

WHEN RON TOLD ME ABOUT THIS, I SAID I WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS.

MY FOLKS HAVE READ "THE BANNER" SINCE THEY WERE AROUND HERE.

MY MOTHER WOULD READ IT TWICE.

SHE WOULD READ IT EARLIER AND RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW ONE CAME OUT, SO I ALWAYS WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PAPER.

IT WAS ALWAYS AROUND.

I WANTED TO BE A CONDUIT FOR MYSELF AND MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOCUMENTARY WORLD WITH THE NEWSPAPER WORLD.

BOTH OF US HAVE HAD TO RELEARN BECAUSE WE WERE DIGITAL PEOPLE AND NOW WE ARE NEWSPAPER PEOPLE.

IT IS A NICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND A NICE GROWING EXPERIENCE.

>> OK, I WANT YOU, GLENN, TO TALK ABOUT WHY THIS WAS NOT A NOSTALGIC INVESTMENT.

WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT MEL'’S LEGACY.

WHY THIS IS MORE THAN A NOSTALGIC INVESTMENT.

>> THAT'’S RIGHT.

THIS IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

MEL AND THE TEAM, THAT IS A PROFITABLE PAPER THEY HAD IN PLACE.

I LOVE WHAT RON SAID, THIS IS ABOUT THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE A LOCAL PAPER THAT HAS RUN DEEP.

THEY REALLY WANT TO TAKE THAT PLATFORM AND GROW IT, AND THAT IS WHAT GETS US EXCITED, ESPECIALLY AS INVESTORS.

A LOT OF WHAT THE MEDIA FOCUSES ON NOWADAYS, WHICH IS PRINT AND HOW WE MOVE TOWARDS DIGITAL AND CAPTURING THE NEW GENERATION AND HOW THEY CONSUME NEWS, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME.

I THINK WE SEE GROWTH HAPPENING IN SOME OF OUR REGIONAL PAPERS.

WE ARE REALLY DOING THAT TYPE OF GROWTH RIGHT NOW.

I THINK "THE BANNER" CAN COME BEHIND AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT HAS BEEN LEFT.

THERE IS REALLY A DEARTH OF HIGH QUALITY LOCAL PAPERS WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH SOME WALL STREET MONEY COMING IN AND BUYING UP SMALL PAPERS.

I DO THINK THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IF MANAGED AND EXECUTED CORRECTLY.

>> YOU TWO HAVE TO BALANCE LEGACY AND CULTURAL HABITS.

BLACK NEWSPAPERS, TRADITIONALLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, LACK A PRINT EDITION.

THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER PROBLEM OF EVERYBODY IS NOT ALL HOOKED UP DIGITALLY, BUT YOU ALL ARE CLEAR ABOUT YOU'’VE GOT TO MOVE DIGITALLY IN ORDER TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?

THAT IS WHAT IS FACING YOU NOW, RIGHT?

>> AS WE DID OUR RESEARCH, WE LOOK AT THE LARGER BLACK PAPERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE TRANSITION TO A DIGITAL PLATFORM.

AS WE LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE NETWORK WE REACH NOW, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO US TO INCLUDE THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE.

FOLKS IN THEIR LATE TEENS, 20'’S, 30'’S, THEY GET THEIR NEWS ON THEIR PHONE.

VERY FEW EVEN PICK UP A PAPER ANYMORE.

"THE BANNER" HAD A NICE WEBSITE, BUT THERE WAS NO MARKETING, NO ATTENTION.

THE OTHER THING WAS THEY HAD SHRUNK, THEY TOOK THE SPORTS SECTION AWAY, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ATTRACT READERSHIP.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME UPGRADING THE WEBSITE, MAKING IT AN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT I MEAN IS WHEN YOU COME TO THE WEBSITE, NOT ONLY DO YOU READ ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOAN OR EDUCATION, BUT YOU HAVE LINKS THAT TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE DIFFERENT SITES TO FIND A JOB APPLICATION, FIND THE LOAN.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US, TO MAKE SURE THE DIGITAL PLATFORM IS EASY, FULL OF RESOURCES, AND WE ARE PUSHING IT OUT TO A YOUNGER AUDIENCE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY GET THEIR NEWS.

YOU CANNOT ALLOW PAPERS TO H OUT, AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE IN THE MARKET, HOW YOU KEEP YOUR READERSHIP YOUNG, HOW YOU GET THE YOUNGER READERSHIP, HOW YOU ENTICE THEM TO COME AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PAPERS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE AN UNEDUCATED COMMUNITY IS A PROBLEM.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT WE JUST STARTED A NEW INITIATIVE, A BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY RIGHT ON THE WEBSITE.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF BLACK BUSINESSES AROUND.

I TALKED TO THEM AND SAY YOU CAN GO AND ADD YOUR BUSINESS.

IT IS A DROP-DOWN MENU, AND IT IS FREE.

THE INITIAL START OF US EXPANDING THE PAPER IN THAT WAY.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU, TOO, BECAUSE MAKING THIS DEAL WAS LONG AND COMPLICATED, AS GLENN HAS SAID, BUT IT ALSO INVOLVED A MORE PERSONAL ASPECT BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, ALL BUSINESS IS PERSONAL, ANYWAY, LIKE POLITICS, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT MEL WAS IMPRESSED WITH WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE HE KNEW YOU WERE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND HE KNEW YOUR FAMILIES.

JUST A BIT ABOUT THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION.

>> THE FIRST TIME WE WALKED IN TO TALK TO HIM AFTER WE SENT THE PROPOSAL, HE SHOT BOTH OF US BECAUSE HE KNEW OF YOUR FAMILY WELL.

HE KNEW MY FATHER AND HIS BACKGROUND.

HE ASKED IF MY FATHER STILL OWN A FARM HE GREW UP ON.

IF WE STILL HAVE THE PROPERTY IN THE FAMILY.

I KNEW HIM AND I KNEW HE HAD SOME SLIGHT CONNECTION.

HE KNEW US WELL.

HE VIEWED ME AND MY FAMILY, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT.

HE WAS HAPPY, I THINK, WE WERE FROM THIS TRIBE.

HE HAD TURNED DOWN MULTIPLE DEALS PRIOR TO OUR DEAL BECAUSE HE DID NOT FEEL THE STEWARDSHIP WOULD BE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

HE KNEW US, KNEW OF YOUR FAMILIES, KNEW WHERE WE CAME FROM, AND HE UNDERSTOOD OUR HISTORIES.

>> HE SAID "I KNEW YOUR GRANDFATHER, DOC SIMMONS, WHO WORKED AT THE PARKER HOUSE."

ACTUALLY DATED A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY AND WAS QUICK TO POINT THAT OUT.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO HE KNEW YOU.

>> SO HE KNEW ME.

>> AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

I WANT TO GO BACK AND EMPHASIZE OR HAVE YOU ARTICULATE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS DISCUSSION AND SAY, WHY BLACK-OWNED?

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME?

>> IT MEANS EVERYTHING.

IT IS WHERE THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE, WHERE THE INFLUENCE COMES FROM.

THIS WAS ALSO A DEAL THAT WAS REALLY CRAFTED WITH BLACK MONEY.

WE ARE THE FIRST BLACK CFI IN THE STATE, AND NOT ONLY WAS IT OUR MONEY THAT CAME TO BEAR, BUT ALSO OTHER BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS STEPPED UP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THAT WAS ALSO AN INFLUENCE FOR MEL, TOO, WHERE THE RESOURCES WERE COMING FROM.

YOU KNOW MY HISTORY HERE IS ABOUT OWNERSHIP AND HOW WE STRENGTHEN AND BUILD THE ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY WHAT I WOULD SAY THE REAL POWER.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE KEEP THIS NARRATIVE WITH OUR PENMANSHIP MOVING FORWARD.

>> TO BE CLEAR, THERE ARE SOME NEWSPAPERS THAT ARE BLACK TARGETED BUT NOT BLACK-OWNED.

I'’M SAYING THIS BECAUSE I REALLY WANT YOU ALL TO ARTICULATE THAT DIFFERENCE AND THAT IMPORTANCE NOW.

GLENN HAS STARTED.

WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT?

>> I'’M AMAZED EVERY DAY WHEN PEOPLE COME UP TO ME, AND THEY ARE JUST LIKE, THANK YOU, TO SEE BLACK LEADERS OWNING THIS PAPER.

THEY READ JUST LIKE EVERYBODY READS ABOUT THE FRONT OF A PAPER AND WHO IS BEHIND IT AND THEY SEE A LOT OF PAPERS BEING BOUGHT OUT, AND THEIR LOCAL NEWS DIMINISHING.

AND PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND THEY TRUST US, AND THEY CONTINUE TO COME UP TO ME AND SAY, "THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE PAPER OVER BECAUSE WE SEE YOU TWO IN FRONT OF IT AND WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WE KNOW IT IS A BLACK BUSINESS WE CAN TRUST."

AS WE GO FORWARD, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR REACH WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THINGS TO ME IS WHEN WE STARTED TO PUT THE DEAL TOGETHER, WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT GLENN'’S COMPANY WAS GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND WHAT SUPPORT HE HAD, BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A GAP.

ANDRE AND I WENT OUT AND SPOKE WITH MANY PROMINENT AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN MASSACHUSETTS REQUESTING SUPPORT, AND THEY CAME TO THE TABLE BIG TIME.

>> FINANCIAL SUPPORT?

>> FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

ABOUT 1/3 OF THE FUNDING CAME FROM INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS WHO PURCHASED SHARES IN THE NEW COMPANY SO WE COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT WAS A COMBINATION OF OUR SUPPORT, OUR EFFORTS, AND THIS WHOLE GROUP OF SOME 30 PRIVATE INVESTORS, ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WHO SAID, WE WANT THIS TO CONTINUE.

WE WANT THIS VOICE.

WE WANT TO HAVE THIS VOICE CONTINUE.

WE WANT IT TO BE BLACK-OWNED, AND WE WANT IT TO REPRESENT US AND OUR PEOPLE.

THAT WAS THE KEY FOR US, REALLY TOOK US OVER THE TOP AND MADE ME FEEL GOOD AND LET ME KNOW THAT OUR EFFORTS -- YOU KNOW, I WAS RIGHT WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

WHEN THE PROCESS STARTED IN THE VERY BEGINNING, I WAS LIKE, OH, YEAH, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO, BUT AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS POSSIBLE AND WE STARTED TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS POSSIBLE AND TALK WITH FOLKS, THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY OVERWHELMING, AND THAT REALLY TOLD ME THAT WAS WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AND WHAT WILL YOU FEEL FULFILLS MEL'’S LEGACY?

>> WE HAVE SERIOUS PLANS FOR THIS PAPER.

A LOT OF BLACK PAPERS IN THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE STILL 200, THERE WERE MANY, MANY MORE.

CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND HAVE BLACK PAPERS.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS EVEN ONE IN MAINE AND ONE FOR -- ONE IN VERMONT.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE ALL GONE.

ONE OF OUR EXPANSION MODELS IS WE ARE GOING TO DO A CONNECTICUT VERSION AT A RHODE ISLAND VERSION.

ALTHOUGH THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES NO LONGER REALLY HAVE A VOICE.

THEIR STORIES ARE NOT TOLD IN A WAY THE COMMUNITY WANTS THEM TO BE TOLD.

OUR PROCESS OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS IS TO CREATE THOSE BUREAUS DOWN THERE, TO EXPAND AND DO A VERSION FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THAT WOULD BE SUCCESS FOR US.

INCLUDING GROWING OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW, WE PRINT 30,000 PAPERS A WEEK, OVER 400 DROP SITES.

WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE THAT, THEY ARE SHOCKED BECAUSE I THOUGHT PRINT WAS SHRINKING.

I GREW UP WITH THE PAPER IN MY HOUSE.

YOU GO TO CHURCH, IT WOULD BE THERE.

YOU GO TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, IT WOULD BE THERE.

THAT IS OUR LEGACY.

THAT IS MEL'’S LEGACY.

>> NONSUIT -- IN DOING OUR RESEARCH, I GOT TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN MAINE, AND I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE G LEAGUE TEAM THERE WAS A BLACK PERSON.

HE TOLD ME THERE'’S A BLACK PAGES OF HERE.

WHEN ARE YOU COMING UP HERE?

HE SAID THERE'’S A LOT OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN THESE OTHER NEW ENGLAND TOWNS AND THEY ARE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, AND THEY ARE LIKE, HEY, YOU COULD BE THE CONDUIT TO US, TO BOSTON.

EVEN GOING TO CAMBRIDGE, PEOPLE I LIKE, WHERE'’S MY "BANNER?"

I NEED IT.

>> I'’M LIKE, WHERE'’S MY "BANNER?"

>> I HAVE IT IN THE CAR.

>> IT IS IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THIS TEAM TAKE THIS PLATFORM AND REALLY PUSH IT.

THE OTHER SIDE IS YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT YOUR CASH FLOW, TO YOUR VIEWERSHIP.

THERE'’S ADVERTISING POTENTIAL.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE REVENUE IS COMING IN TO MATCH THE ENERGY OF THE INNOVATION, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, I THINK THE PAPER HAS SOME REALLY GOOD DAYS AHEAD OF IT.

>> MM.

ANOTHER QUESTION, WHEN THE DEAL WAS FINALIZED, HOW DID YOU FEEL IN THAT MOMENT?

>> EXCITED, ENERGIZED, SCARED, PROUD.

I WOULD SAY A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THOSE.

IT HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND THREE MONTHS, BUT I'’M REALLY HAPPY WITH WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE GREAT STAFF AND I THINK WE TELL GREAT STORIES.

ALSO TALKING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A LARGE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT HAS MADE COMMITMENTS, AND IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT THAT COMMITMENT IS OUT THERE AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THOSE COMPANIES TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND WE ARE A CONDUIT FOR THAT, TOO.

>> THE MOMENT OF THE SALE, HOW DID YOU FEEL?

>> I FELT GREAT.

I GOT TWO OUT-OF-STATE CALLS WHEN THE PAPER WAS PURCHASED.

MY COUSIN IN MARYLAND AND A REALLY GOOD FRIEND IN VERMONT.

I SAID, HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?

THEY GO, WELL, WE WERE READING ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER.

I SAID, YOU ARE GOING TO START READING ABOUT THIS IN "THE BANNER."

THEY BOTH WANTED SUBSCRIPTIONS RIGHT THEN.

THAT SHOWS ME WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW AND EACH READERS IN A VARIETY -- REACH READERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH TODAY DO NOT READ PAPERS, BUT STILL, WHEN YOU GO INTO HAIR SALONS AND BARBERSHOPS, PEOPLE ARE STILL OPENING "THE BANNER" AND READING IT, SO WE KNOW THAT PART OF "THE BANNER" IS THERE, BUT MY SON IS 23.

HE SENDS ME STORIES ON HIS PHONE ALL THE TIME, SO WE HAVE TO ACCESS THAT.

PLUS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STORIES THEY WILL END UP SEEING NATIONALLY.

I KNOW THAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'’S SO MUCH ACCESS YOU CAN DO TO BRING IN SUPPORT FROM FOLKS WHO JUST DID NOT HAVE ACCESS BEFORE.

THERE'’S A WHOLE UNTAPPED AUDIENCE.

>> THAT'’S RIGHT.

>> TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS A LOT OF CROSS TEAMS THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN FROM LEGAL TO FINANCE.

>> SURE.

>> I DO WANT TO CALL OUT ONE NAME IN PARTICULAR, TONY RUSS HELPED DRIVE THIS THING TO THE GOAL LINE, SO I WANT TO SAY HIS NAME.

TO ME, IT WAS A CELEBRATION, VERY SHORT-LIVED BECAUSE NOW IT IS WHAT'’S NEXT?

>> HE CELEBRATED MORE.

YES, YES.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME.

THAT'’S THE END OF OUR BROADCAST, THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW, STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.