Houston Defender Network

The Houston Defender was founded as a weekly newspaper in 1930 to serve the Black community of Houston, Texas, by Clifton F. Richardson, Sr., and taken over by his son, C.F. Richardson, Jr. after his death. The publication’s original mission included a 14 point program to support increased opportunity and equality for the local Black community, including voting access and education reform. The outlet was purchased by Sonceria Messiah-Jiles in 1981, and is now the Houston Defender Network, and publishes in print, online, and via social media channels. The publication covers general local and statewide news, including local government and politics, health, entrepreneurship and local business, high school, college, and professional sports, and local education. The Defender Network also features local arts and culture, food, music, and the arts, and local profiles and community information such as event coverage, as well as opinion features such as the “Defender Roundtable.” The outlet is active on multiple social media channels, including original video reporting on Youtube. The Defender Network has also held special projects and community events, such as voting rallies, the State of Black Women, the HBCU Presidents’ Classic, the Best of Black Houston Awards, and coverage of issues such as community investment or for people under 40. The outlet has also partnered with organizations such as Report for America. The Houston Defender Network’s revenue streams include advertising, subscriptions, and events.