Mr. Payne & Mr. Payne

In the past few decades, technology has taken over the way we
live our lives. From the books that we read to news we receive,
the way we consume media has been changed forever. But recently,
there’s been a movement to return to the analogue. Whether it’s
vinyl records, DVDs, or even newspapers - the demand for physical
media is growing.


Creators and storytellers across the nation are meeting that
growing need by making new and interesting physical content of
their own. Christopher Payne is doing just that with his
publication Fine Print.


Christopher grew up in a small town in California named Cherry
Valley near the Mojave Desert. While living there, he honed his
skills as an artist, producing art that focuses on what he
describes as, “nature viewed through a distorted lens”.


After finding artistic success in exhibits, on magazine covers,
and having artworks placed in movies and TV shows - and after
living in LA and Austin - a new job search led Christopher to
Baton Rouge four years ago. Now he  leads his Fine Print
team across the nation from here in the capital city.


It goes without saying that the news has had one foot out the
door of the physical medium for years now. This has caused
magazines, newspapers and newsletters to have to make moves to
stay alive. One of the main things you’ll see them doing is
establishing a strong internet presence to make sure their
readers can get their news anywhere and everywhere. Ivory Payne
is no stranger to this evolution. Ivory is a graphic artist and
the publisher of the Baton Rouge Weekly Press, a paper that
started life 47 years ago and today has a significant internet
presence - though Ivory still prints physical issues for those
traditionalists who want it. 


Ivory says the paper has a circulation of around 60,000, which,
per capita, makes it one of the most well-read local papers in
the country.


Ivory was born and raised here in Baton Rouge but spent much of
his working career in Ohio. He came back home in 2016. Back here
he wears many hats, including President of the Louisiana Black
Publishers and Media Association, assistant pastor at the Greater
New Birth Full Gospel Fellowship, and publisher of a bi-annual
coffee table book about African American leaders who make a
positive impact in their communities, called Leaders
Publications.


It’s clear to see that these two Paynes don’t just share the same
name, they’re two sides of the same coin. On the heads side of
the Payne coin, Ivory is keeping the public informed through one
publication and highlighting innovators with another. On the
tails side, Christopher is using his skills and talent to lift up
others' work as well. 


Ivory and Christopher are both very passionate about what they do
and that’s important: If it weren’t for organizations like
theirs, physical mediums would surely phase out of existence.


Oscar Tickle sits in for Stephanie Riegel on this episode of Out
to Lunch, recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the
Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo
and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.


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