the voice

The Voice, founded in 1982, is a British national African-Caribbean newspaper operating in the United Kingdom. The paper is based in London and was published every Thursday until 2019 when it became monthly. It is available in a paper version by subscription and also online.

owned by the GV media group limited

Lester Holloway edits the voice and has always had an interest in the political side of life.

The voice started as a print newspaper but with the rising number of people using social media and the internet the executive decision to move it online was made.

Regular columns in the newspaper include Faith, News, Campaigns, Sport, Black British Voices. In addition there are special supplements such as:

  • Black Business Guide – an annual publication highlighting and showcasing small black business owners and their trades.
  • Apprenticeships – each year, a supplement highlighting apprenticeships across the UK is published alongside the newspaper. The supplement includes features from key figures in business and apprenticeships.
  • Carnival – every August, The Voice publishes a Carnival supplement to coincide with the Notting Hill Carnival.
  • Bound volumes of the periodical from 1982 to 1999 are held in the Black Cultural Archives.
  •  The Voice also features in the British Library collection of Black Britain publications.

Media industry

David Hesmondhalgh argues that major cultural organisations create products for different industries in order to maximise chances of commercial success. Which suggests why the voice was made.

Margret Thatcher was the uk prime minister in 1979-1990 and evoked racist laws against the black community in attempts to get them out of Britain. The voice was created in 1982 for the black community to speak freely against what Margret Thatcher wanted.

David Hesmondhalgh believed companies involved in cultural industries were motivated by profit rather than a duty to public service broadcasting. No one was going to invest in a newspaper which targeted a niche audience unless it was going to make money. However, the social and political context of the early 1980s offered the founder of The Voice, Val McCalla, an opportunity to raise the funds needed for such a risky venture.

Barclays Bank was being heavily criticised for its investments in South Africa where racial segregation was institutionalised in a system known as apartheid. In a bit of impression management, the bank attempted to counteract the negative publicity by showing support for African-Caribbean causes

Media Representation

They were eager to create a countertype to the negative portrayals of black people often represented in the mainstream media. This was particularly important after the civil unrest across England in 1981

The audience are positioned to sympathise with the cowering police officers who are under attack. They are almost protecting the viewer from the violence and the side-turned and torched vehicle is a strong signifier of the destruction they are trying to prevent.

Structure

The voice follows the same structure per post

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