Fletcher Word—A Different Shade of News Fletcher Word will be sharing his viewpoint on the issues facing Toledo’s Black Community and his effort to provide a minority voice in the local media. Mr. Word is the co- owner and publisher of The Sojourner’s Truth, a weekly newspaper that serves the northwest Ohio area and brings its readers information about the local, state, and national African-American community. The Truth has been publishing in Toledo for almost 11 years and has expanded its readership during that time to over
65,000. In 2008, the newspaper opened The Truth Art Gallery in its offices in the downtown area. The 2,000 square-foot gallery features the works of local artists. Fletcher Word is a native of New York City and was reared in the Washington, D.C. area. He attended Harvard College graduating with a degree in government. The father of two, Fletcher Word has been a resident of Ohio for more than 25 years. He serves on the executive committees of the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association, The Greater Toledo Urban League, Center of Hope Family Services and is a board member of the Toledo Museum of Art Cultural Diversity Committee. In addition to his duties with The Truth, Word is also a frequent contributor on local television shows as a political analyst. In January 2012, Word started Toledo Reads, a monthly publication that focuses solely on education and literacy.