The Voice (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
The Voice is a British
national weekly tabloid newspaper owned by the Jamaica
n publisher, GV Media Group, aimed at the British Afro-Caribbean community. The paper is based in the London Docklands and is published every Monday.
, Jamaican by birth, and an accountant
by profession, founded the paper. He reportedly took advantage of government policy on equal opportunity advertising to secure the financial future of the paper. Shortly after the death of Val McCalla The Voice was reportedly sold and is now owned by the Jamaica based Gleaner Company. For years The Voice has sported the banner Britain's best Black newspaper, although it has not been quantifying or even qualifying what it means by 'best'. At its peak, under Winsome Grace Cornish, one of its many editors
in its 20 year history, circulation was thought to have peaked at 57,000 in the early to mid 90s. Later in its history it would abandon Audit Bureau of Circulations certification altogether. It was once said that the newspaper based on its name alone could see-off and survive all rivals - a statement which to this day has proved true, although rival paper the New Nation
, helmed by ex-Voice journalist Michael Eboda is giving the title a good run for its money.
The Voice was not the first Black British newspaper. Other titles have included Black Britain, helmed by Guardian
and former Voice staffer Joseph Harker, Arif Ali
's West Indian World and Caribbean Times, The Weekly Journal, Vie Marshall's The Drum, Black Voice, Grassroots
and many more.
The Voice emerged from the ashes of the Brixton riot as a forum through which the views and news from within the Black communities could be expressed. It has over the years been a thorn in the side to establishment, campaigning on numerous issues and championing the causes of Black people nationwide.
Many of today's most popular Black television, radio and print journalist have in the past been associated with the newspaper. Its roll of honour reads like a Black who's who and includes former Commission for Racial Equality
chair Trevor Phillips
, former BBC
and currently Al Jazeera
newsman Rageh Omaar
, ITV
's Martin Bashir
, authors Diran Adebayo
, Leonie Ross, film-maker and novelist Kolton Lee
and Vanessa Walters
. Broadcasters MTV
Jasmine Dotiwala
, Henry 'the Big' Bonsu
, Dotun Adebayo
, Onyekachi Wambu, publisher Steve Pope and the list goes on. In the mid 90s, Peter Pek
, the brand
specialist well known for launching publications, worked on its design.
A full-colour cartoon is provided weekly by Dave Saunders.
Foundation photographer and Photo Editor is Patrick Friday. First editor: Flip Fraser.
in Birmingham
that year. They received complaints from the Asian
community within Birmingham as well as other people because of the way the newspaper depicted the Asian community. A Press Complaints Commission
finding of February 2006 censured the paper for reporting the alleged rape of a teenage girl as a fact when it was merely a rumour.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
national weekly tabloid newspaper owned by the Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n publisher, GV Media Group, aimed at the British Afro-Caribbean community. The paper is based in the London Docklands and is published every Monday.
History
The late Val McCallaVal McCalla
Val McCalla is best known as the founder of The Voice, a British weekly newspaper aimed at the Britain's black community. He founded it in 1982 as a voice for the British African-Caribbean community and black Briton people...
, Jamaican by birth, and an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
by profession, founded the paper. He reportedly took advantage of government policy on equal opportunity advertising to secure the financial future of the paper. Shortly after the death of Val McCalla The Voice was reportedly sold and is now owned by the Jamaica based Gleaner Company. For years The Voice has sported the banner Britain's best Black newspaper, although it has not been quantifying or even qualifying what it means by 'best'. At its peak, under Winsome Grace Cornish, one of its many editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
in its 20 year history, circulation was thought to have peaked at 57,000 in the early to mid 90s. Later in its history it would abandon Audit Bureau of Circulations certification altogether. It was once said that the newspaper based on its name alone could see-off and survive all rivals - a statement which to this day has proved true, although rival paper the New Nation
New Nation
This article is about the British newspaper, which is not to be confused with the Apartheid-era New Nation published in Johannesburg, South Africa or the satirical publication in Singapore....
, helmed by ex-Voice journalist Michael Eboda is giving the title a good run for its money.
The Voice was not the first Black British newspaper. Other titles have included Black Britain, helmed by Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and former Voice staffer Joseph Harker, Arif Ali
Arif Ali
Arif Ali was the regional product director for the Associated Press news agency in Europe, Middle East and Africa.-Career:He first became employed at the AP London bureau in October 1982 as a field service technician...
's West Indian World and Caribbean Times, The Weekly Journal, Vie Marshall's The Drum, Black Voice, Grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
and many more.
The Voice emerged from the ashes of the Brixton riot as a forum through which the views and news from within the Black communities could be expressed. It has over the years been a thorn in the side to establishment, campaigning on numerous issues and championing the causes of Black people nationwide.
Many of today's most popular Black television, radio and print journalist have in the past been associated with the newspaper. Its roll of honour reads like a Black who's who and includes former Commission for Racial Equality
Commission for Racial Equality
The Commission for Racial Equality was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Its work has been merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.-History:...
chair Trevor Phillips
Trevor Phillips
Trevor Phillips OBE chairs the Equality and Human Rights Commission and is a former television executive and presenter...
, former BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and currently Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
newsman Rageh Omaar
Rageh Omaar
Rageh Omaar , is a Somali born British journalist and writer. His latest book Only Half of Me deals with the tensions between these two sides of his identity. He used to be a BBC world affairs correspondent, where he made his name reporting from Iraq...
, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's Martin Bashir
Martin Bashir
Martin Bashir is a British journalist and media personality, currently with NBC News as a contributor for its Dateline program, and an afternoon anchor for MSNBC, hosting Martin Bashir...
, authors Diran Adebayo
Diran Adebayo
Diran Adebayo is a British novelist, cultural critic and broadcaster best known for his vivid portrayals of modern London life and his distinctive use of language.-Education and career:...
, Leonie Ross, film-maker and novelist Kolton Lee
Kolton Lee
Kolton Lee is a British film director, crime novelist and former journalist and Editor of The Voice.-Life and career:His parents came from the Caribbean island of Montserrat. They met in London in the 50s. When the couple split and their two children were sent to a Surrey based children's home,...
and Vanessa Walters
Vanessa Walters
Vanessa Walters, born in London, 1978 is an English novelist and playwright. She is also a commentator and critic. She is best known as the teenage novelist discovered to be writing a novel as a hobby to share with her school friends...
. Broadcasters MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Jasmine Dotiwala
Jasmine Dotiwala
Jasmine Dotiwala is an English-born Broadcaster, Producer, Director and Columnist.-Career:Jasmine Dotiwala has gained acclaim in the media for breaking new, young, British talent, along with fresh, groundbreaking and edgy TV programming featuring A-List celebrities including Eminem, Jay-Z,...
, Henry 'the Big' Bonsu
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
, Dotun Adebayo
Dotun Adebayo
Oludotun Adebayo MBE is a Nigerian-born, British-based radio presenter, writer and publisher. He is best known for his work on Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as the obituary programme Brief Lives.- Early life :...
, Onyekachi Wambu, publisher Steve Pope and the list goes on. In the mid 90s, Peter Pek
Peter Pek
Peter Pek MCSD is a brand strategist, writer, columnist, editor, publisher, designer, creative director, public relations professional, public speaker, corporate celebrity, radio and television personality from Malaysia...
, the brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
specialist well known for launching publications, worked on its design.
A full-colour cartoon is provided weekly by Dave Saunders.
Foundation photographer and Photo Editor is Patrick Friday. First editor: Flip Fraser.
Complaints
The paper was criticised in 2005 due to its response to the Lozells riots2005 Birmingham riots
The Birmingham riots of 2005 occurred on two consecutive nights on Saturday 22 October and Sunday 23 October 2005 in the Lozells area of Birmingham, England. The riots were derived from racial tensions between the Black British and British Asian communities, with the spark for the riot being an...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
that year. They received complaints from the Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
community within Birmingham as well as other people because of the way the newspaper depicted the Asian community. A Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
finding of February 2006 censured the paper for reporting the alleged rape of a teenage girl as a fact when it was merely a rumour.