[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO EL CHICANO NEWSPAPER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of 
pride that I rise today to pay tribute to El Chicano Newspaper on the 
occasion of its 30th anniversary.
  El Chicano Newspaper, the first Chicano publication to serve the 
Inland Empire, was first published in 1968 on a monthly basis under the 
auspices of the University of California, Riverside. In 1969, through 
dedication and perseverance of local pioneers in the field of 
journalism, El Chicano Newspaper became independent and locally owned 
with Marta Macias Brown as its editor and her sister, Gloria Macias 
Harrison as its publisher, and William B. Harrison as its business 
manager.
  Within six months of independent ownership, the newspaper went from a 
monthly to a bimonthly, then to a weekly publication, and has made 
journalism history as the longest-publishing Chicano owned publication 
in the State of California. El Chicano Newspaper was originally staffed 
by six volunteers working from their homes. Today, the newspaper has a 
4,000 square foot home office located in the San Bernardino Hospitality 
Lane Business District. Since its launch in 1968, El Chicano Newspaper 
has grown to become a self sustaining, minority owned business with a 
current paid staff of more than 20 using the state of the art computer 
technology for all its production.
  On June 1, 1987, a sister corporation was formed with other minority 
investors to acquire two community newspapers serving the cities of 
Colton and Rialto. This acquisition created the second group of 
newspapers in the state owned by Hispanic investors. In 1998 the 
Harrisons further expanded their newspaper holdings to include the 
Victorville Legal Reporter and the Sun Newspaper group, seven weekly 
newspapers serving North County San Diego. This expansion makes a total 
of eleven newspapers owned by the Harrisons who started their newspaper 
career with El Chicano Newspaper in 1969.
  Throughout its 30 years of service to the Inland Empire, El Chicano 
Newspaper has been a vital link in the Chicano community, serving as a 
cohesive factor in keeping the community aware of current issues and 
encouraging a high level of community interest and involvement in local 
events. Therefore, El Chicano Newspapers has demonstrated its 
commitment to serving the fastest-growing segment of the population of 
the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating El 
Chicano Newspaper on its 30 years of service. At home in my district in 
California, we are proud of the contributions El Chicano Newspaper is 
making to the community. This publication is representative of the 
emerging economic force of the Chicano community of California.

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