The longtime home of the Atlanta Daily World newspaper on Atlanta’s historic Auburn Ave. has been acquired by a new owner, Daily World Publisher M. Alexis Scott announced Wednesday. The acquisition of the building that housed Atlanta’s oldest African-American newspaper begins a new chapter of promise and historic preservation with the acquisition of the building at 145 Auburn Ave., Scott said.
“We will restore the building and bring it back to its former vibrancy,” said Gene Kansas for the new ownership group. “We will continue to celebrate the illustrious history of this publication and the impact that the Scott Family had in making and recording history on Auburn Avenue since 1928.”
Scott said that family members are happy that the historic nature of the building will be preserved. The ADW moved out of the building following the 2008 tornado that severely damaged the building. Without adequate resources to bring the building up to code, family members determined it was better to sell than see the building razed.
“This is a win-win situation,” Scott said. “We are thrilled to know that the rich history of ADW will continue to be recognized on Auburn Avenue.”
Kansas said he plans to keep the plaques on the door that recognize the significance of the ADW history. One was developed by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games citing the newspaper’s significance as the first successful black-owned daily newspaper in the 20th century. The ADW started as a weekly and became a daily in 1932. In 1980, Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists, designated ADW as an “historic site in journalism,” crediting ADW founder William A. Scott II, with creating newspaper syndication. At one point, more than 40 newspapers were printed by ADW on Auburn Avenue.
“We want to make sure that we maintain a repository for this history,” Kansas said. “The Atlanta Daily World has been an asset, not only to this community, but to our national identity as well.”
Kansas said the renovation will include residential and work spaces, in keeping with the building’s history which preceded its use by the ADW, when Scott Family members acquired it in the 1940s.
The year 2014 marks the 86th year of operation for ADW. C.A. Scott, brother of the founder, led the paper until 1997, an unprecedented 63 years on Auburn Avenue. Â Now, housed on Desert Drive at the Airport Office Park, the ADW has a digital daily presence online at www.adwnews.com and is printed once a week on Thursdays.
“We are happy to know that future generations who visit Auburn Avenue will continue to learn about the pioneers who helped make Atlanta the place that it is today,” said Scott, who is third-generation publisher and granddaughter of the founder.
About Post Author
