About The Philadelphia Observer
Serving Philadelphia’s Black community with news that informs, connects, and uplifts.
The Philadelphia Observer
Historical records sometimes mention a 19th-century “Philadelphia Observer” that evolved into the Christian Observer—a separate, religious publication from the 1830s. We are not affiliated with that earlier title; our modern history begins in the mid-1970s as a community newspaper serving Philadelphia’s Black residents.
About
Who we are
The Philadelphia Observer—also known in archives as the Philadelphia New Observer—is a Philadelphia-based, African-American community newspaper. Established in 1976 and published weekly, the Observer has chronicled local news, politics, culture, business, education, and neighborhood life for nearly five decades. Our pages reflect Philadelphia’s voices—covering the victories, challenges, and everyday stories that shape Black Philadelphia.
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Get inspire with every story you read
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Our roots in the Black press
The Observer belongs to a proud lineage of Black newspapers that have documented and advocated for our communities across Pennsylvania and the nation. In Philadelphia, that ecosystem includes longstanding outlets such as The Philadelphia Tribune. Together, these papers have amplified the achievements and struggles of Black communities while mentoring generations of journalists.
Our roots in the Black press
The Observer belongs to a proud lineage of Black newspapers that have documented and advocated for our communities across Pennsylvania and the nation. In Philadelphia, that ecosystem includes longstanding outlets such as The Philadelphia Tribune. Together, these papers have amplified the achievements and struggles of Black communities while mentoring generations of journalists.
Family leadership & stewardship
In the 2000s, the Observer came under the leadership of Walter “Ball” Smith Jr., a visionary Black press publisher who also led the New York Beacon. Smith believed that community journalism wasn’t just about reporting events, but about creating space for truth, accountability, and opportunity. Today, his family carries that torch forward—ensuring that the Observer continues to inform, empower, and inspire Philadelphia’s Black community.
What we publish today
We publish timely news articles and community features centered on Philadelphia’s Black neighborhoods—local government and schools, public safety and courts, small business and jobs, health and housing, arts and culture, faith and family, sports and youth achievement. Our mission: report with accuracy, context, and respect, and make space for perspectives too often left out of the conversation.
