Wisconsin media company Civic Media announces that it is placing the Milwaukee Courier – Wisconsin’s oldest Black newspaper – and two radio stations in an employee benefit trust with the goal of “ensuring independent Black media ownership in perpetuity.” The company says the new structure under the newly formed Milwaukee Black Media Trust will include the Courier, 
FM translator W269DL (fed by WGKB-AM and branded “101.7 The Truth”) and, eventually, WNOV-AM “860 The Voice.” Civic Media says it created the Milwaukee Black Media Trust to ensure no individual or corporation can sell, consolidate, or redirect these institutions away from the community they serve. Civic Media CEO Sage Weil comments, “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.” Civic Media will support Milwaukee Black Media’s operations through a services agreement, providing administrative, technology, and sales support services but Milwaukee Black Media will operate with full editorial and programming independence. The newly formed trust entered into a local marketing agreement with Good Karma Brands to program “The Truth,” with an option to purchase the station. Good Karma CEO Craig Karmazin states, “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.”
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026
