The Big Bend Sentinel is under new ownership this week and will be operated as a non-profit.
Roger Black, an art director for news publications around the world, is heading the Sentinel News Project. He purchased the newspaper from previous publishers Max Kabat and Maisie Crow, who will continue to own and operate The Sentinel restaurant in the same building in Marfa.
“The change to a nonprofit gives us great potential for growth.” Black said. “The new organization and its board members will focus on gathering resources, covering the news and culture of the Big Bend.
“We’re starting by engaging with the readers and the whole community to hear what people find valuable in both news — and what they want.” Black said.
The newspaper will continue to publish on its regular schedule with a print edition on Thursday and online coverage through the entire week.
Black’s experience as a designer for such publications as Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post promises to bring a fresh look to the pages each week. He was an early adopter of the web and led the design of the first MSNBC.com and other news sites.
Black grew up in Midland and has owned a ranch in Brewster County for 25 years, living at what he calls “Camp Cinco,” and is a winner of many architectural awards.
His family recently celebrated a reunion at the Girl Scout Camp, Mitre Peak, which his mother, Eleanor Fox Black, started in 1947.
“One thing won’t change: our commitment to the traditions of a community newspaper that is entering its 100th year,” he said. “One thing won’t change, our commitment to a traditions of a community newspaper that is entering its 100th year,” he said.
