McCalla, Val Irvine

▪ 2003

      Jamaican-born British publisher (b. Oct. 3, 1943, Kingston, Jam.—d. Aug. 22, 2002, Seaford, East Sussex, Eng.), founded The Voice, a highly successful British newspaper centred on black issues and interests. After working as editor of the Black Voices pages for the East End News in the late 1970s, McCalla established The Voice in 1982, when race issues were at the forefront of British consciousness. Semitabloid in style, the paper targeted racism in all its forms and courted controversy, a stance that led some to criticize it as sensationalist and irresponsible. Its influence, however, was undisputed, and it became a training ground for leading journalists. McCalla also owned Chic and Pride magazines.

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