By Tanu Henry, California Black Media
Dr. John Warren of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint made his mark at the 2025 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annual convention in Savannah, Georgia when he became the third person from the West Coast to lead the 85-year-old organization, whose members are mostly from the East Coast, South and Midwest.
Warren says he has been preparing for the job for more than 20 years.
NNPA members elected Warren at the conference held from June 26 to June 28.
In his new leadership role, Warren plans to bring a “new direction” to the Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents more than 230 African American-owned newspapers and media companies across the United States.
“Now, I won’t telegraph all my plans,” Warren joked when California Black Media (CBM) asked him to share his vision for the organization founded in 1940 as the National Negro Publishers Association.
“I will say this: I will push to reinvigorate the NNPA, starting with each region,” said Warren, who is also an attorney, ordained minister, U.S. Army veteran and college professor. He has also served as a Washington, D.C. Board of Education member and U.S. congressional aide.
“I will bring people back — people who have pulled away over the years,” Warren continued. “There is a whole new board of directors elected with me. We will organize major training sessions before we begin our work, taking a close look at the organization’s priorities and operations, everything — budget, finance, programs, etc.”
Warren said there is a perception that the NNPA has been “a closed and selective network” serving the needs of only some members. He promises to change that, taking steps to “open the organization to all members.”
At the awards ceremony on June 27, the Sacramento Observer, received the conference’s top honor, the highest overall score across all awards categories with a cumulative total of 154 points.
The Observer earned first-place awards in Education Reporting, Business Reporting, Original Photography, Youth and Children Coverage, and Facebook Campaigns. It also ranked among the top three in several other areas, including Environment; Social and Criminal Justice; and Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle.
“Simply put: It feels really good to be honored in that way,” Larry Lee, publisher of the Sacramento Observer, told CBM. “Our team works really hard to present news and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. Everyone in our newsroom strives for excellence. They are the winners — the people who take the time to create every story, every headline, every photo, every caption, every layout.”
Lee added, “I always tell our team that we don’t do what we do for awards, but it is always nice to be honored, to be recognized for our hard work.”
The Los Angeles Sentinel also received three honors at the NNPA Awards for Religion Section coverage (first place); Community Service Reporting (second place); and Video Campaign (third place).
Both Warren and Lee emphasized the “critical” need for the Black Press to continue covering and centering Black stories and engaging Black audiences in the historic tradition of the Black press. Freedom’s Journal, America’s first African American newspaper, was published in New York City almost 200 years ago in 1827.
“We inform and educate our readers. That’s what we do. That’s what I’ve always done. We are always teaching when we write stories,” said Warren, who first started working for the Black Press at 17. He is now 79.
Lee says he has confidence in Warren’s leadership.
“He is forward-thinking, smart, strategic and courageous,” said Lee. “He has tremendous knowledge on policy issues — and hopefully his experience and insights can help position the NNPA in a way that continues to empower the Black Press.”
For Warren, focusing on helping to steer NNPA members as they continue to transition from print to digital is paramount. Although, he reminds them, “print is not dead.”
“We have to figure out ways to bring more resources and dollars to our sector — by innovation, with public policy. How can we help ourselves to be more sustainable as we continue to do the important work that we do?”
