By Priscilla Hailey
The Seattle Medium
Photo/Jim Coley
Christopher H. Bennett, founder and owner of The Seattle Medium Newspaper and Kris Bennett Broadcasting, Inc. is a giant among Black publishers and radio broadcasters across the country.
Bennett comes from humble beginnings. He was born on a farm in rural Georgia, the second oldest of nine children where hard work was expected from him and his siblings. He walked miles along country roads to get to a one-room school that was shared with children of all ages. He was raised during the Jim Crow era where schools for Black children did not start until after all the crops were harvested by late October and school ended in early May. His family worked from sun up to sun down every day except Saturday & Sunday. They planted and harvested their own food.
“We were always busy working on the farm and had very little social life,” said Bennett. “We went to church once a month because we didn’t have a preacher for the other Sundays. “
In the late 1950’s, Black children were finally allowed to attend school during the regular school year. Bennett was smart and disciplined and loved learning. He graduated from high school with honors, participated in many extra-curricular activities and was voted most likely to succeed.
“We were taught by teachers who genuinely cared for us and our academic development,” said Bennett of his childhood education. “They held high expectations for us. I loved going to school. I didn’t think anything about walking miles to get there because that is what I did from first through fifth grade. And choosing not to go to school was not an option. I believe my experience helped me to be the person I am today.”
Bennett entered the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school and was eventually stationed in Everett, Washington. After a distinguished military career, he was honorably discharged and enrolled in Everett Community College on a football scholarship. While in college, he worked full-time as a juvenile counselor for the state.
In 1970 Bennett founded The Seattle Medium Newspaper.
“There were lots of protesting and rioting during that time. I felt our community needed a voice,” said Bennett about the racial climate at the time. “We needed to fully understand what was happening and how it affected our lives as African Americans. We needed a vehicle to speak out on our issues and concerns.”
“It wasn’t the easiest decision for me to make [starting a newspaper] but I knew it had to be done,” continued Bennett, who at the time had only 14 months of experience in the newspaper business. “So, I had to go on a crash course in newspaper publishing and management.”
During the initial set-up, Bennett partnered with Cora Vaughn, a journalism student at the University of Washington, as editor. Both worked to bring a message to Seattle’s Black Community that was missing. Strong editorials set the tone for the newspaper and the small Black community newspaper quickly became one of the most quoted newspapers in the Pacific Northwest. The newspaper quickly gained local, regional and national interest as it would win many local and national awards for journalism excellence in news reporting, layout, design and advertising.
Bennett was the only one selling ads at that time and he was good. The Medium grew from four to eight pages within months of starting. As the newspaper continued to grow, Bennett set up other departments within the business.
With lots of family members, Bennett moved some of them to Seattle to help with the business.
Priscilla Hailey, Larry Williams and Connie Cameron believed in his vision, relocated to Seattle and partnered with him. They were equipped with degrees in business and English and used them to help grow the company. In 1984, he expanded his empire and purchased radio stations in Seattle, Tacoma & Portland, Oregon.
“We could list all of Bennett’s accomplishments and there are lots of them but what impresses me the most about this businessman is his desire to help the African American community,” says Larry Williams, a former partner who served at Bennett’s CEO before starting his own business.
According to Williams, Bennett never strayed away from the core principals to educate, inform, advocate, motivate and empower his community.
“His empire was built around issues and concerns of the Black community. Not only will he speak out on the issues and concerns of our communities, he worked hard to do something about them. He is more than just rhetoric; he is a doer,” added Williams. “He uses his communications empire of newspapers and radio stations, which he built from the ground up as a sounding board for the community to be informed and educated about news that affects them.”
Today, The Seattle Medium has been in business for 47 years, and Bennett, who considers himself to be “semi-retired”, still plays an active role in the business.
“Someday I will retire and find my shade tree,” says Bennett. “But for right now, I’m following God’s plan for me, and I know he’s not through with me yet.”
Bennett lives on Mercer Island with his wife, Gloria. He is the proud father of five children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. This month Bennett will celebrate his 75th birthday. His high school class voted him most likely to succeed and he did. He has never forgotten his roots and his community and continues to use his communications empire to help maintain and improve our communities.
