Journalist and publisher Robert C. Maynard bought the Oakland Tribune newspaper from Gannett Company Inc., becoming the first African-American to gain a controlling interest in a major daily newspaper. The newspaper, which had previously been ranked one of the worst in the country, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for its coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake under Maynard’s supervision. Ironically, economic issues resulting from that quake and the Oakland Hills firestorm of 1991 forced Maynard to sell the paper in 1992.

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)