Clara McLaughlin

Clara McLaughlin
Clara McLaughlin, owner and publisher of The Florida Star and The Georgia Star
Born	Brunswick, Georgia, United States
Status	Married
Occupation	Journalist
Notable credit(s)	First African American female in the U. S. to become founder, major owner and CEO of a network affiliated television station.
Title	Newspaper Publisher/Owner
Family	Yes

Clara McLaughlin is an author, newspaper owner and publisher of The Florida Star and The Georgia Star in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. McLaughlin previously also worked as Editorial Assistant for the Journal of the National Medical Association under Dr. W. Montague Cobb and wrote the first book for black parents on child care. The Black Parents Handbook was published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. She was the first African American female in the U. S. to become founder, major owner and CEO of a network affiliated television station.

Clara McLaughlin was born in born in Brunswick, Georgia and grew up in Gainesville, Florida. She started her career in journalism while in high school by writing, producing, and distributing the school’s only student newsletter.

After graduating from high school, Clara attended Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia, where she majored in music. She left Hampton and joined the U. S. Navy as a WAVE, and worked as a yeoman and organist for the Navy Chapel. After receiving her honorable discharge, Clara was able to use her GI Bill to help pay for the rest of her education.

When Clara reached Howard University in Washington, D. C., she discovered that the University did not offer journalism as a major, and for this reason initiated steps for students to major in journalism. Clara was, therefore, able to graduate with honors from Howard University as a journalism major and was also one of the founders of the National Black Communications Society".

Clara served as Co-Editor-in-Chief (1971 Bison) her first time to ever work on a yearbook and Editor-in-Chief her second year (1972 Bison). With her leadership and skills, Howard University became the first HBCU to win the All American Award for a student publication. Clara also worked as Editorial Assistant for the "Journal of the National Medical Association" under Dr. W. Montague Cobb and wrote the first book for black parents on child care. The Black Parents Handbook was published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.