© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Up To Date

A longtime Kansas City journalist launched his own newspaper focused on the Black community

By Brian Ellison,
Elizabeth Ruiz
Published July 12, 2023 at 4:41 PM CDT
Ways To Subscribe
Photo of the a new newspaper with city council candidates images ahead of the June election.
Eric Wesson
The first issue of "The Next Page KC," a new newspaper in Kansas City focused on the Black community.

After more 20 years working for Kansas City's longest-running Black newspaper, Eric Wesson had his offer to buy the paper turned down. Now he's started his own publication focused on the Black community, The Next Page KC.

Eric Wesson, who spent 20 years as editor and publisher of The Call, Kansas City's historic Black newspaper, says he got into journalism to be "the voice of the voiceless."

But after Wesson's offer to buy The Call was rejected, he decided to create his own newspaper and start his own legacy. Now, his new print publication, The Next Page KC, is a month old and focusing its attention on Kansas City's Black community.

However, Wesson said he's "not at war" with his former employer.

"I haven't ever done anything that was a failure," Wesson told KCUR. "I'm proud of the journey and the opportunity to be able to do something that I can say is mine."

  • Eric Wesson, founder, The Next Page KC
Tags
Up To Date PodcastNewspapersjournalismNewsmediablack-owned businessesKansas City
Stay Connected
Brian Ellison
As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
See stories by Brian Ellison
Elizabeth Ruiz
As a producer for Up To Date, my goal is to inform our audience by curating interesting and important conversations with reliable sources and individuals directly affected by a topic or issue. I strive for our program to be a place that hosts impactful conversations, providing our audience with greater knowledge, intrigue, compassion and entertainment. Contact me at elizabeth@kcur.org or on Twitter at @er_bentley_ruiz.
See stories by Elizabeth Ruiz
Support paywall-free journalism
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.
Donate Now