Jackson Advocate

Atlanta Newspaper Founder Honored: Was A Native Mississippian

Washington, D. C.-The late W. A. Scott, II. founder of the Atlanta Daily World and the Scott Newspaper Syndicate. was lauded as "a business genius and a true pioneer newspaperman" last Saturday evening in a citation honoring the World as "Newspaper-of-the-Year."

The Atlanta Daily World was the recipient of award given by the Capital Press Club of Washington, D. C., on the occasion of that organization's 15th annual awards dinner at the Willard Hotel. Moss H. Kendrix. Atlanta native, and head of the Moss H. Kendrix Organization, Washington, D. C., nationally known public relations firm, made the presentation which was received by World managing editor. William Fowlkes.

Recalling his boyhood days in Atlanta. Mr. Kendrix related a story of his having listened to the late Mr. Scott lecture to his newsboys. "That man could wrap any salesman around his finger and make any half-way ambitious lad want to sell. After listening to his 'you-are-a-businessman' talk, I," said the speaker, "had to have a newspaper route." (Continued on Page Six)
Noting that Mr. Scott's father the late Rev. W. A. Scott, was a printer, Mr. Kendrix ventured that although the printer's ink might have been in W. A. Scott's blood, he would have been a success in any business venture that he might have undertaken. He possessed the imagination to create, the desire to succeed, and the fortitude to endure, plus a competitive spirit so symbolic of the American way of life."

Tracing the short-lived career of Mr. Scott, the speaker pointed out that the WORLD's founder was born at Edwards, Mississippi, in 1902, "the son of a minister, printer, fraternal and civic leader, and a mother whose sole interest and purpose seemed to be a devotion to husband and children." Mrs. W. A. Scott, I. is still an active...

Atlanta Daily World executive and an owner of the Atlanta Daily World.

"Dead at thirty-two, Mr. Scott had launched his publishing empire in 1928 with an Atlanta weekly newspaper, pushed it to a semi-weekly in 1931, and, in which year, he organized affiliated newspapers at Birmingham, Chattanooga and Columbus, Georgia. Quickly the Scott papers became tri-weekly in 1931, promoting the slogan news while its news,' and introducing features not before known to the Negro press.

"Not long thereafter, W. A. Scott started The Memphis World and with the printed-away-from-home newspapers. This true pioneer of the Negro press invented a Negro newspaper pattern that has endured down through the years. At the height of his publishing career, this man printed and shipped to all sections of the country locally owned and edited newspapers which met the needs and interests of these areas," said Mr. Kendrix.

The WORLD became a daily in 1932, two years before the death of its founder, and is today the oldest and first successful Negro daily newspaper. C. A. Scott, younger brother of W. A. Scott, who was associated with the late Mr. Scott from 1928, is publisher and editor of the Atlanta Daily World and its affiliated papers at Birmingham and Memphis. SNS still publishes a number of printed-away-from-home local newspapers.

A second "Newspaper-of-the-Year" award went to the Chicago Daily Defender now in its second year of publication. Mrs. Ethel Payne, Defender correspondent and awards dinner toastmistress, received the award for the publisher, John H. Sengstacke.