Trailblazing Black Publisher Thomas Watkins Passes Away at 88

Watkins founded New York's first Black-owned daily newspaper and built a media empire over decades of service

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is saddened by the passing of Thomas H. Watkins, a pioneering Black publisher who founded New York's first Black-owned daily newspaper, the New York Daily Challenge. Watkins went on to build a media empire, acquiring and launching several other Black-focused publications over his decades-long career. He served as NNPA chairman and was a renowned advocate for the economic empowerment of the African-American community.

Why it matters

Watkins' life and work represent the vital role that Black-owned media has played in amplifying the voices and experiences of the African-American community. As one of the most prominent Black publishers of his era, his passing marks the end of an era for the Black press in America.

The details

At the height of its operation, Watkins' flagship New York Daily Challenge brought in nearly $30 million per year and employed dozens of African-Americans from its headquarters in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Over the decades, Watkins founded and acquired several other Black-focused publications, including the Afro Times, New American, Jersey City Challenge, Patterson-Passaic Challenge, and Newark Challenge. He was a past president of the NNPA and continued to serve on its board for many years.

  • Thomas H. Watkins passed away in 2025 at the age of 88.
  • The New York Daily Challenge celebrated its 56th anniversary this year.

The players

Thomas H. Watkins

The founder, CEO and publisher of the New York Daily Challenge, the first Black-owned daily newspaper in New York City. He built a media empire over his decades-long career, acquiring and launching several other Black-focused publications.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

The president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which expressed its condolences on the passing of Thomas H. Watkins.

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What they’re saying

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is saddened by the passing of one of the publisher icons of the Black Press of America, Thomas H. Watkins.”

— Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President, National Newspaper Publishers Association

The takeaway

Thomas Watkins' life and legacy underscores the vital role that Black-owned media has played in amplifying the voices and experiences of the African-American community. As one of the most prominent Black publishers of his era, his passing marks the end of an era for the Black press in America.