Fort Wayne Ink Spot Newspaper (FWIS), a new biweekly, black-owned publication, is currently in its sixth print edition. It is published and distributed out of Fort Wayne, Indiana and can be purchased at area shops such as CVS, Barnes and Noble, and Southeast side gas stations.
FWIS has replaced Frost Illustrated Newspaper (that ceased publication in October of 2017) as a source of news about Africans and African-Americans. Previous articles can be read on the website: FWInkSpot.com. Temporary phone number: (260) 222-8365. Facebook: fwinkspot
Fort Wayne Ink Spot’s first issue (8 pages) was published on March 12, 2018. The seventh edition of the paper (now at 12 pages) will be the printed and distributed starting May 29.
FWIS is continuing the legacy of Frost Illustrated Newspaper, the previous black-owned paper that ceased publication in October of 2017 after almost sixty years of service.
FWIS Publisher, John P. Dortch, approached Frost Illustrated co-owner, Edward N. Smith, about starting his own publication. Both men have a personal relationship and attend the same church.
In addition to the physical newspaper, digital stories will be published on the paper’s website, FWInkSpot.com.
Edward Smith and Frost Illustrated was the subject of FWIS’s first feature story: http://bit.ly/frostgiantsmith
Additional topics covered over the first six issues include: The All-Black Cemetery of Mercer County, Ohio (Part 2 of 4); an interview with Spike Lee’s editor, Randy Wilkins; an article about payday lenders and the halting of their high-APR expansion product; a story about the praise singers of West Africa paired with an article about Nigerian Pidgin language.
Fort Wayne Ink Spot highlights one local African-American entrepreneur per issue, with our Fort Wayne’s Very Own section. There will also be reoccurring section that will highlight local black churches.
Video productions can also be streamed through the website. Audio stories will be distributed later.
Fort Wayne Ink Spot will also produce special all-themed issues of the publication, starting with an All-Music issue set to print on June 12. Other special issues include: Food (August 7), Health and Wellness (October 30), Movie and TV (Jan./Feb. of 2019), and Business and Finance (April 2019).
Entrepreneurism, health and financial issues as well as leadership and development are other areas of focus for the paper, along with its regular coverage of community events and history retrospectives.
John Dortch, the President/CEO of the Preston Joan Group, Inc., a human resource management consultancy, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Fort Wayne Black Chamber of Commerce.
The temporary home of Fort Wayne Ink Spot is the Penta Minority Entrepreneurial Center, located at 2513 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807. Dortch is a partner and President/CEO of the Penta C.S. Group, a minority entrepreneurial center.
William Bryant Rozier, FWIS Managing Editor, and FWIS Design Manager Adrian Williams join Dortch, as the paper’s main staff members.
