Public Message

In the Martinsville Bulletin, there were two stories about Rev. Tyler C. Millner Sr. and his collection of black history. Bill Wyatt, the reporter, published the story "Millner seeks local homes for lifetime Black history collection," and then, in Wyatt’s weekly opinion column, shared his point of view.

The Rev. Tyler C. Millner Sr. displayed some of his collection each year at Morning Star Holy Church during Black History Month. Now that he is retired, he has spoken some time in the press and other public institutions about donating his collection. It is truly a valuable collection, approximately 50 years in the making. Now the Martinsville Bulletin enters the scene late with its take on Black history,

In his opinion piece, "What We Leave Behind," reporter Bill Wyatt offers his perspective.

Wyatt did not mention Tyler Millner by name; he referred to him as a retired Black minister. Wyatt said that when he saw Millner, he was surrounded by more than 50 years of things he had refused to let history forget. He mentioned, "Books filled boxes and drawers. Plastic totes held newspaper clippings, church records, programs, photographs, and artifacts. He had gathered material about Martin Luther King Jr., the Black press, Black women, Black preaching, and the work of people whose names never became famous.

Wyatt said, "Still, even the keeper of history eventually has to let go."

The Minister (Millner) said, “The ultimate is not in the things, it’s in the spirit.”

In Bill Wyatt's closing, he stated, The saddest part is not that his collection may have little market value. It is that the one person who can fully explain it will not always be here. Perhaps the best thing he can leave is not every object, but the stories that make the objects matter. And perhaps our duty is to listen while he can still tell them.

What is Black History?

Black history is always evolving; what was noted today can be history tomorrow. Many white reporters and general people have to realize they had a limited role in black history. If they don't understand it or can't find it on a Google search. The reporter believes the Rev. Tyler C. Millner Sr. may have to cherry-pick his 50-year-old collection.

The reality is that every piece of material is valuable in its own right. Wyatt believes that if Millner is not around, people may not know what it is. Black Americans know the items; they have lived them. The future history of the black experience will be told in a way you can't find using AI or the internet or a white reporter's point of view.

Local news starts with the right reporter, one who looks and listens to the community. That has become a problem. The community no longer controls the news; the papers control the community.

There are basically four recognized news providers in the area: the Martinsville Bulletin, StarNews, The Henry County Enterprise, and Cardinal News. Facebook is the unofficial news agency driven by people who want to shout out. Some government officials use Facebook to say what they can't say officially.

The Marrinsville Bulletin is the oldest newspaper. It once was a real community paper, but was taken over by Lee Enterprises. Now, their newspaper no longer represents the community. Their prime, or maybe their only, local reporter is Bill Wyatt, who has often shown his favor for the community where he lives. There have been allegations that Wyatt does not interview politicians he does not personally like. Based on his reporting, they need to change the name to the Mulberry Gaze and turn the paper into just a community journal.

Then there is StarNews, which is basically a Facebook broadcaster. This Facebook live provider is led by Charles Roark, owner and operator. If you want gossip and just straight-out attacks on individuals, tune in to his StarNews cable channel. When he reports national news, he resorts to Fox and Newsmax, which reflect the kind of audience he attracts.

The Henry County Enterprise is the closest to community news. They do report on local people and events. They also provide a Letters to the Editor column, which other newspapers no longer offer for community members to share their opinions. Their reports provide unbiased news on local government activities. They provide mostly facts, free of personal bias.

The Cardinal News is somewher in the neutral category. They do provide unbiased editorial opinions, unlike Bill Wyatt's weekly opinion column, where the Bulletin gives him a chance to express his opinion. Still, his opinions continue to fall short because of his biased beliefs.

The residents of Marinsville and Henry County desire better reporters, not ones controlled by their editors and owners.

At one time, local newspapers were owned by private companies, and news represented the local community. The times have changed, and most newspapers are owned by conglomerates that set the news cycle in line with the companies' beliefs and political influence.

Due to ownership changes, newsrooms now have fewer reporters and editors who are less connected to local issues. This leads to limited, sometimes biased coverage, restricting the stories that get told.

In Virginia, Lee Enterprises owns most of the major newspapers. They link newspapers to cities: Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville, Martinsville, and six other locations. The Florida billionaire David Hoffmann, who controls Lee Enterprises, recently said he wants to save local newspapers. This contradicts his takeover of Virginia newspapers, where, because of him, they have lost their community focus.

Community members are often excluded from public forums, forcing them to rely on social media to participate in local discussions. For this reason, rural areas must manage their own media and decide what issues matter most. Independent journalism should therefore become a central focus in rural communities.