Remembering Jerrel Jones, a force in Wisconsin black journalism

By William Gooden

While some called Jerrel W. Jones, founder and CEO of Courier Communication, a pioneer in Wisconsin black media, it would be more appropriate to have called him a force in black journalism. Jones was the son of Dr. Mary Ellen Strong, who owned the Milwaukee Defender Weekly Newspaper the only newspaper “of and by” the African American community during her time. His mother was the one who he often credited for his interest in print media, his dedication to journalism and his passion for community advocacy.

Jones became aware of how often the majority mainstream media could become clouded in ignorance, both willfully and as a matter of policy. He noticed how often black people were the subject of scrutiny in news media, while rarely being the commentators. “We are the news. We are everywhere, in everything. We need to be the ones to tell our stories,” he said in an interview. In 1964, Jones set out to create a platform for underrepresented voices and to serve the African American community in Milwaukee; thus The Milwaukee Courier was born. The Courier is the oldest continuously publishing black newspaper in Wisconsin and has been a force in politics, culture and community since its first edition. Jones gave it the slogan “the newspaper you can trust” and it was a key source of information and commentary for Milwaukee’s African American community.

Jones and the Milwaukee Courier made more than just waves here in Milwaukee; he became known nationally as well. Among the members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Jones along with the late William ‘Bill’ Lee of Sacramento, CA and Crusader Newspaper Group Publisher (Chicago, IL and Gary, IN) Dorothy R. Leavell were known as the ‘Young Turks’ when they became active members of the NNPA in the late 1960s. Together Jones, Lee and and Leavell made significant changes in the newspaper industry, becoming officeholders in NNPA and joining an older and influential board of directors.

In 1972, Jones further expanded his media influence by launching WNOV 860 AM, with Jones as the majority stakeholder, making it the first black-owned radio station in Wisconsin and one of 30 in the United States. The purchase of WNOV 860 AM also made him the first black man in the United States to concurrently own a radio station and newspaper. The WNOV 860 AM radio station has stood as a cornerstone of talk radio in Milwaukee, offering listeners an engaging and diverse space to discuss the important issues of the day. Additionally, the station served as a destination for music enthusiasts, providing them with a rich programming lineup that celebrates the best in R&B, traditional blues, reggae, gospel and jazz. He would later add 106.5 FM and in 2013, The Madison Times, a black newspaper in Wisconsin’s’ capital to reach a broader audience and round out his communications empire.

Over the years, Jones would go on to hold ownership of several enterprises. As a business leader and local media mogul he would become a pivotal player in politics. Candidates and elected officials, locally and nationally, frequented his northside office and held court with WNOV talk show hosts over the years. Jones held politicians to account, including those whose campaigns he helped support financially. He even launched a successful recall effort against a state senator he previously supported when he voted against the expansion of gambling in the state, specifically the expansion of the Potowatomi Casino.

While Jones was always modest about his legacy, there was one thing that disappointed him about his success. In order to achieve his accomplishments, he had to leave college before graduation to manage his flourishing and expanding enterprises. For many years he thought that his college degree was out of reach. However, that changed in 2022, when Jones was the recipient of a honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Cardinal Stritch University.

“My father valued education and believed in its power to change your circumstances. It is why he worked so hard to keep the community engaged and informed,” said Mary Ellen Jones, General Manager of WNOV and Jones’ daughter.

In 2024 Jones celebrated 60 years as head of Courier Communications and as a voice and activist in Milwaukee’s black community. Unfortunately, his was a voice that was lost to us on June 4, 2025 when he passed away at age 84. Though gone Jones will forever be remembered as a vital force for change and progression in our community. It will be a force that will live on though his family, employees and those in the community whose lives he affected. His will be a force that will be felt for years to come.