Reporter and Editor, The Afro American

Inducted into MDDC’s Hall of Fame in 2008. This article is based on information submitted at the time.

Moses Newson was a pioneering journalist in the area of Civil Rights, covering stories throughout the South and the rest of the country during the height of the movement in the 1950s and 1960s. His coverage was crucial, making it possible for the black press to clearly portray events to the black community.

He was selfless in his pursuit of the story, exhibiting a fearlessness, even while in harms way, that led to historically meaningful coverage of great importance the nation.

While stories including the Emmett Till murder and trial, the Little Rock Nine integrating Central High School in Arkansas and the CORE Freedom Rides were a significant part of his work, so was coverage of several national political conventions and international events: independence for the Bahamas, Nigeria after its civil war, the struggle over apartheid in South Africa and others.

In addition to his reporting , Newson was a city editor, executive editor and managing editor for the AFRO, serving the paper from 1957 to 1978 during a very dynamic part of its history. He is also a modest and thoughtful man, who continues to see his role as simply the eyes, ears and pen used to share information with those not there to see it for themselves.