The Austin Voice Newspaper is resuming publication this week, nine months after the death of its founder and editor Brad Cummings in an apartment fire last June. The paper, which was established in 1985 as a weekly, will now publish twice a month, with its first new issue expected by Friday.
The return of the Austin Voice marks a significant moment for local journalism on Chicago’s West Side, where community news sources have historically been limited. The newspaper was co-founded by Cummings and publisher Isaac Jones at a time when locally produced news for the area was scarce.
Over the years, the Austin Voice became known for its coverage of important issues affecting West Side residents. It was among the first local publications to inform readers about the AIDS epidemic and played a role in founding the Austin AIDS Prevention Coalition, which later became the Westside HIV/AIDS Regional Planning Council. In 2005, a related publication called the Garfield-Lawndale Voice was launched, and together they became known as the Voice Newspapers.
Isaac Lewis, founder and publisher of North Lawndale Community News, is now leading the Austin Voice. Lewis said only the Austin Voice is returning to publication at this time but did not rule out reviving the Garfield-Lawndale Voice in the future. He plans for both his existing paper and the revived Austin Voice to cover different neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side: “I know what it is like to start a paper and have it continue,” Lewis said. “In communities like ours, you have people that are survivors and thrivers amongst the lack of resources and adversity. … Doing community news, you develop relationships with the community, learn their stories and learn the history of a community.”
Lewis started North Lawndale Community News in 1999 as a monthly publication that later grew into a weekly. He said his motivation has always been to help improve his community: “The newspaper was a tool that became an opportunity, because I wanted to help improve the community where I live and start a business,” he said. “I wanted to start a way to connect people to resources; that’s the basis of the mission of North Lawndale Community News.”
Cummings died on June 26 in an intentionally set fire at his apartment building on West North Avenue—a case described by Alderman Emma Mitts as part of a domestic violence incident. After Cummings’ death halted production at The Voice newspapers, debts totaling about $65,000 remained unpaid until Lewis took ownership; he credited community support for helping clear these obligations.
Readers can access The Austin Voice online or purchase physical copies at one of 327 locations from North Avenue to Cermak Road. The upcoming issue will focus largely on coverage of the 7th Congressional District primary election.
