Triangle Tribune Debuts

DURHAM — The area's newest newspaper is rolling off the presses this weekend. The Triangle Tribune will target African-American readers in Wake, Durham and Orange Counties.

For years, the Carolinian in Raleigh and the Carolina Times in Durham have served a predominantly black readership, nonetheless Tribune publishers say African-American readers don't have enough choices and are underserved.

Durham churches are the first distribution point for the Triangle Tribune. After that the publishers hope to branch out and make their paper available at 300 locations across the the area.

The Tribune is part of a chain that serves Charlotte, the Triad and now the Triangle.

They're a start-up operation but they hope to become a landmark in Durham, and eventually the Triangle.

"Hopefully, we can fill that need," said co-publisher Gerald Johnson. "I think we have the types of publications that are interesting to readers, have the right look, and we feel we can fill a void that's currently missing in this marketplace.

Organizers say they want to move their readers into action.

"Get the African-American community interested in the stock market and investing for example, and when we do that then we hope they would look at some of the black companies to make some investments in," said co-publisher Ernest Pitt.

Potential readers say the Tribune is a good idea.

"Black people have to take control ourselves first, and black newspapers, any black business that'll support the community, I'm all for it," said Durham resident Lamont Cobb.

The Tribune tried to buy out its two competitors but the two papers rejected that offer. The Carolina Times refused to talk to WRAL-TV5 News, while the Carolinian's publisher says the new paper will add spice to the market.