Black journalists honored for shaping St. Louis media landscape
Four Black journalists whose careers helped shape newsroom leadership, community coverage and talent pipelines in St. Louis were inducted into the St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame on April 23. The honorees — Normal “Tweed” Webb, Donald E. Franklin, Bonita Cornute and Alvin A. Reid — were recognized for decades of work spanning […] The post Black journalists honored for shaping St. Louis media landscape appeared first on St. Louis American.
Black News 
Four Black journalists whose careers helped shape newsroom leadership, community coverage and talent pipelines in St. Louis were inducted into the St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame on April 23.
The honorees — Normal “Tweed” Webb, Donald E. Franklin, Bonita Cornute and Alvin A. Reid — were recognized for decades of work spanning print and broadcast journalism, as well as their roles in expanding access and representation in the media industry.
Webb, a longtime sports editor at the St. Louis Argus, was honored posthumously for his coverage of Negro League and local Tandy League baseball. Beyond reporting, his work helped preserve records and elevate players whose contributions had been overlooked by mainstream media.
His reporting and archival work contributed to the eventual induction of James “Cool Papa” Bell into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring the role local journalism can play in shaping national sports history.
Franklin, also honored posthumously, was among the earliest Black journalists at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Joining the newspaper in 1967, he worked as a reporter, copy editor and assistant city editor, covering crime and community issues.
He later co-founded the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, which launched the nation’s first Urban Journalism Workshop in 1977. The program created a pipeline for Black students to enter print and broadcast media, an effort that continues to influence newsroom diversity initiatives.
Reid, current city editor of the St. Louis American and a panelist on Nine PBS’ “Donnybrook,” is among those who came through that pipeline. He credited the American and publisher Donald M. Suggs with providing early career opportunities.
“I would not be here without the St. Louis American,” Reid said, noting his career has included stops at daily newspapers across several states and national publications.
His career reflects a broader shift in local media, where journalists increasingly move across markets and platforms while maintaining ties to community-based outlets.
Cornute, a longtime broadcaster at KTVI, was recognized for a 35-year career that spanned reporting, producing and hosting community-focused programming. She joined the station in 1983 and became known for her consumer and public affairs reporting.
Her work highlights the role of local television in building audience trust and delivering service-oriented journalism—an area that remains central as stations adapt to digital platforms and changing viewer habits.
“I went to work every day committed to informing the community,” Cornute said.
She retired in 2018 and was previously honored with a Living Legend Award from the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists.
Together, the inductees represent multiple facets of the regional media ecosystem—from legacy print institutions to broadcast newsrooms—and illustrate how local journalists have influenced both coverage and career pathways.
Their contributions come at a time when news organizations continue to confront challenges around workforce diversity, audience engagement and sustainable business models. Programs like the Urban Journalism Workshop and long-standing community outlets such as the St. Louis American remain key components of that landscape.
The Hall of Fame recognition highlights not only individual achievement, but also the broader impact of journalists who helped expand access to the profession while documenting underrepresented communities.
For a full list of the 15 newest St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame members, please visit https://stlmediahistory.org/
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