The Reformer

South Bend’s Notable Periodicals

Over the years, St. Joe County has been home to a wide array of newspapers, magazines, and newsletters that connect our community. Everything from Studebaker employee articles, bank robberies and crimes, marriage announcements, obituaries, rural potlucks and agriculture, to national headlines has made it into local publications. One paper to emerge in the mid 1900s was The Reformer, South Bend’s first newspaper by, for, and featuring Black residents.

The Reformer’s inaugural issue was published on August 10th, 1967 and immediately took to addressing the pressing issues that were facing the community. “POLICE ACTIONS QUESTIONABLE” sprawls the first headline, drawing attention and demanding accountability from law enforcement’s shooting of seven people in LaSalle Park Neighborhood the previous month. Throughout the paper’s four year lifespan, reporters and contributors would go on to cover political topics, local events, and public interest pieces, bringing a pointed perspective to South Bend news coverage.

A Lasting Mark on South Bend

But The Reformer also became a home for more neighborly news like block party clubs, school sports, church services, and advertisements for Black-owned businesses like Perry’s Pharmacy. Through photos, articles and stories this newspaper painted a picture of South Bend at the height of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. And while the last issue was printed 55 years ago, The Reformer has forever left its mark on the people and news landscape of this city.