Iconic Washington paper to
go back to publishing under
original name

The oldest U.S. newspaper for gays and lesbians has started publishing under its original name again.

The former Washington Blade had been publishing as the D.C. Agenda after the paper’s parent company abruptly closed in November. Donations kept the publication going, and in February three staffers bought the newspaper’s name, assets and archives in bankruptcy court for $15,000.

“The move comes after Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia — a new company headed by former Blade publisher Lynne Brown, editor Kevin Naff and sales executive Brian Pitts — acquired the paper’s assets at a bankruptcy auction in Atlanta,” Digital Media Wire reports. “The purchase included the Blade name, all trademarks and copyrights, as well as its entire 40-year archive.”

Naff said that the paper surveyed readers about the new and old names and that readers were overwhelmingly in favor of going back.

“A lot of people really have an emotional connection to the Blade, and the outpouring since it closed was overwhelming and was really what led us to carry on,” Naff said.

The Florida Agenda used to publish as the South Florida Blade and had the same parent company as the Washington Blade. The two currently do not have any formal business relationship.

Brown highlighted goals for the new version of the paper on the Blade’s Web site.

“We now have the opportunity to both restore and refresh a powerful, venerable news gathering institution and to make the treasure trove of our vibrant gay rights and liberation movement history accessible to the public,” Brown said.

Naff is optimistic that the paper’s supporters will help the Blade be successful its second time around.

“We are expecting an increase in readership as we re-launch. We’ve never had more readers and there’s never been more news to cover than now,” said Naff.

Figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation last Monday show that average weekday newspaper sales are down by 8.7 percent from last year.

Naff still thinks the Blade can handle the challenge with the help of its readers.

“The Blade is no different from any other media outlet in that we must continue to innovate, adapt and engage our audience to thrive,” Naff said.—FA