Joseph L. Amprey Jr., Ph.D.

The DRUM, Reading
$10,000 loan

AN ALMANAC OF NEWS FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE DRUM IS THE ONLY PUBLICATION OF ITS KIND IN BERKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.

Dr. Joseph L. Amprey, Jr. serves as Publisher and City of Reading Editor for The DRUM, a monthly publication.  Begun in 2002, The DRUM highlights stories affectings Persons of Color from outstanding students to performing arts productions to religious events.  Dr. Amprey employs two editors, three photographers, and three account executives to help oversee the publication.  In addition to running The DRUM, Dr. Amprey is also a professor at Kutztown University, where he serves as Director of the Multicultural Studies Minor Program.

Since its release, The DRUM has received positive feedback from its readers–community members love seeing their stories of success in the news, along with their photographs.  The publication is worthwhile not only for the readers, but also for the advertisers.  Because The DRUM is placed in many churches and barbershops, each copy is read multiple times, a bonus for local advertisers.  Dr. Amprey envisions expanding into more counties in the future.