_Lou Ransom
Lou Ransom, executive editor of the Chicago Defender, is a veteran award-winning journalist who has spent much of his 29-year career working with the Black Press. The Pittsburgh native began his career with the New Pittsburgh Courier, becoming editor of the venerable publication after only a year. He then became one of the founding editors of the National Leader, an ambitious national Black weekly out of Philadelphia. The U.S. Navy veteran has also edited the St. Louis American newspaper and did stints as assistant managing editor of Jet Magazine and managing editor of Black Enterprise magazine.
“I have always accepted that my calling is with the Black Press. It is just as necessary as it has ever been, and perhaps needed even more. It is crucial that those publications remain viable, remain credible and remain in the forefront of the battle to rise to the challenges facing the Black community.”
He has also worked as a state capital correspondent for Booth Newspapers in Michigan, editorial writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, editorial page editor of the North Hills News Record and community editor/editorial page writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. His personal column, “Ransom Notes,” has captured first place in Best of Gannett competitions, and numerous local and national awards.
Most recently, Ransom led the Chicago Defender to capturing the John B. Russwurm Trophy as the Best Black Newspaper in America, as judged by the National Newspaper Publisher’s Association (NNPA), after serving as managing editor at the New Pittsburgh Courier, leading that publication to more first place awards in NNPA competition over the last three years than any other publication.
Ransom has been married 30 years to his wife, Gerri, and is the father of three children; Louis Jr., Matthew and Nexus.
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