After agreeing to acquire Black Talk/Gospel 860 WNOV/106.5 W293CX Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Courier weekly newspaper from Mary Ellen Jones’ Courier Communications Corporation last December, Civic Media is preparing to transfer those properties into a community owned trust. The trust will also operate Good Karma Brands’ Black Talk “101.7 The Truth” 1510 WGKB Waukesha/101.7 W269DL Milwaukee via LMA with an option to buy.
Milwaukee Black Media Trust will have employees enter a profit-sharing program that vests over five years. The trust will be governed by three trustees who will appoint board members to run Milwaukee Black Media LLC that will operate the properties. The Courier and operation of WGKB will be run by the trust immediately, with WNOV joining upon FCC approval and closing of Civic Media’s purchase of the station.
The Trust is led by Founding Trustees: Milele A. Coggs, Milwaukee alderwoman and longtime community leader; Tiffany Wynn, Senior Marketing Leader at Ascension Health; and Roemel Brown, editor of The Milwaukee Courier, who serves as the employee representative trustee. The board members are Mark Wade, Board President and Milwaukee business owner and community advocate; John Torres, former owner of El Sol Broadcasting and WJTI in Milwaukee; and Chris Moreau, South Region President for Civic Media.
Robert ‘Biko’ Baker will serve as General Manager of Milwaukee Black Media LLC working with Program Director Darren Deboe, Editor Roemel Brown, and Sales Director Doug Kelley.
Civic Media CEO Sage Weil said, “We are very excited about Milwaukee Black Media because it puts these important community media assets under the control of the community that they serve, with a financial structure that benefits the employees doing the work. We look forward to working closely with Milwaukee Black Media to support the new organization’s growth and success in the years to come.”
Coggs commented, “These institutions have served as the voice and reflection of Milwaukee’s Black community for decades—creating space for sharing ideas, challenging perspectives, and fostering dialogue. The Trust ensures that these institutions remain community-controlled and Black-centered at a time in our nation’s history when the Black experience is too often diminished. I am honored to serve as a founding trustee, helping to amplify the voice of Milwaukee’s Black community. I am excited for what lies ahead and the future we are building together.”
Baker followed, “Milwaukee’s Black community stands at an important crossroads, and the role of media in shaping our path forward has never been more critical. This is a pivotal moment: one that calls for tearing down silos, elevating authentic voices, and building media institutions that serve our community across generations. The Milwaukee Courier has anchored Black Milwaukee for over sixty years, and WGKB extends our ability to reach and engage audiences in new ways. What we are building is not simply a media company–it is a platform designed to inform, connect, and uplift a community that deserves nothing less.”
Civic Media will provide providing administrative, technology, and sales support services to Milwaukee Black Media.
Good Karma Brands CEO Craig Karmazin said, “Good Karma Brands is proud to support a model that keeps these important media institutions rooted in the community they serve and expands the opportunity for our teammates. From the start, our focus has been on building a strong platform and positioning it for continued growth and impact. We’re proud of what’s been built with The Truth, and we’re excited to partner with Milwaukee Black Media who is best positioned to serve our advertising partners, teammates and Truth Nation.”
