Our statement regarding a recent documentary film.

Media Clarification Statement Soul Publications Press Kit Addendum

About Soul Publications
Soul Publications is an independent Black archival and storytelling platform dedicated to preserving and amplifying the cultural memory of Black communities through journalism, art, and primary-source material. Rooted in the original mission of SOUL Newspaper, our work spans both legacy preservation and contemporary publishing, bridging generations of resistance, creativity, and expression.

Clarifying Our Role in Who in the Hell is Regina Jones
Soul Publications and Matthew Jones, contributed archival materials and Jones participated in an on-camera interview for a documentary film entitled “Who In The Hell is Regina Jones”. While Matthew is credited in the film as an "Archival Producer," his role was limited to providing select historical materials and commentary relating to a portion of Regina Jones’s life and work. Neither Matthew Jones nor Soul Publications was involved in the development, editorial decision-making, or promotional strategy of the film.

While we were featured, Matthew Jones and Soul Publications were not involved in shaping the final portrayal and have not endorsed this interpretation of our archive. Any promotional framing of Soul Publications in this film does not reflect the perspective or endorsement of Matthew Jones or the organization.

The inclusion of Soul materials in the documentary, combined with the nature of the film's advertising and marketing, has resulted in a public misconception that Soul Publications is a central subject or co-producer of the documentary. This has contributed to confusion in the public sphere and disrupted opportunities tied to our independent programming and platform.

Soul Publications is a living archive, a publishing body, and a cultural project that extends far beyond any one story. We honor our connection to Regina Jones, who co-founded the original SOUL Newspaper, and I personally shared a close relationship with her for over 15 years. We spoke nearly every day and worked closely to preserve the archive and legacy of SOUL. I encouraged her not to discard historic materials, supported her in donating issues and materials to UCLA and Indiana University, created a local archive of issues, photos, negatives and slides, assisted with interviews and appearances, worked with journalists to secure articles in the New York Times and uplifted her story long before the documentary existed. Despite our longstanding partnership and familial bond, our relationship has not been the same since I raised concerns throughout the entire process, well before the film’s premiere. The relationship portrayed in the film is not one that we share today. Still, I will continue to preserve SOUL’s legacy, in alignment with mine and Regina’s mission and community.

We would like to clarify:
Soul Publications is autonomous operating independently of the film and its production. Our archival work continues to grow in scope, and our mission remains focused on protecting and promoting Black cultural memory through our own editorial lens and partnerships.

We respectfully request that media, distributors, and public-facing entities refer to Soul Publications and Matthew Jones accurately—as contributors, not collaborators or editorial producers.

For accurate information about Soul Publications, or to connect about partnership or licensing opportunities, please contact us directly.

Media Contact:
Soul Publications
matt@soulpublications.co
https://soulpublications.co