The outlook for the grand dame of black-owned publishing companies, Johnson Publishing, looks dimmer by the day.
Speculation began earlier this year that the company behind Ebony and Jet magazines was on the ropes. Then came the news came earlier this month that the Ebony Fashion Fair traveling fashion show -- a flamboyant staple of black women's fund raising efforts since 1958 -- was being canceled for the first time in its history. Now comes a Newsweek.com article that says the company is is putting its flagship title, Ebony, up for sale.
...It appears Johnson Publishing's chairman and CEO, Linda Johnson Rice, has reached what must have been an agonizing decision: Johnson Publishing is seeking a buyer or investor for its flagship publication, Ebony, in an effort aimed at securing the survival of the nation's oldest magazine devoted to African-American life. It's unclear whether the company's other properties, including Jet, would be part of a possible sale.
According to media and investment executives familiar with the developments, Chicago-based Rice, the daughter of Ebony's legendary founder, the late John H. Johnson, has approached, among others, Time Inc., Viacom, and private investors that include buyout firms. Time Inc., the world's largest periodical publisher, already owns Essence, a monthly lifestyle, beauty, and fashion magazine for African-American women. Viacom, meanwhile, owns BET (Black Entertainment Television).
Nothing has yet resulted from any of Johnson Publishing's overtures, however. And it's unclear whether negotiations are underway between the publishing company and any of the identified parties or other potential rescuers. SOURCE: Newsweek.com
It's a challenging time for print media in general, so Johnson Publishing's plight is not that unusual. Add to that the question of whether the brand can stay relevant with younger blacks, and prospects look even worse. The fact that black-owned Johnson Publishing faces this juncture during the year when a black man -- one whose social circle the CEO belongs to -- took the White House, is loaded with irony.
Still, no magazine holds the place in the collective heart of African Americans that Ebony has since its inception in 1945. Few sights hold the same impact as seeing the Johnson Publishing Company building hold its own in Chicago's skyline. And memories of the glittering, twirling pageantry of the Ebony Fashion Fair will live on for black women of several generations. I hope those things won't become casualties of recession or indifference.
Comments: (21)
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By: leb1 on 9/26/2009 10:50AM
It would be sad if Ebony/Jet closed down. Even though I only purchase them occasionally, (I guess that's part of the problem), I find information and articles from a perspective that I can find nowhere else. I hope that they can find a way to survive as a black-controlled publication.
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By: Michele L. Smith on 9/26/2009 2:15PM
At time such as these I believe this is where we must say "Yes we can". Over the past 64 years Ebony has kept the Afro American community abreast to our history. Ebony has also supported every rising star not only once but mulitple times throughout the years. Where are we? Please let's not let Ebony go to non African Americans.
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By: Victoria on 9/26/2009 3:20PM
Id feel bad for ebony but i'm a subscription holder of jet not ebony magazine. I still hope they can work something out.
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By: Lux on 9/26/2009 10:54PM
Michele L. Smith I totally agree with you. The African American community celebrities that graced the covers for years, the rich, middle and lower income families all over our country should not allow OUR magazine to be bought by non-blacks. Bob Johnson sold BET and we know who's running the programming now and how ghetto stupefied their shows are. I stopped watching long ago. Susan Taylor sold Essence and eventually this black periodical will be lost to us. Mainstream programming does not care about what we want to read and view. If you don't believe me where are we in the fall lineup? To mainstream American we are viewed as thugs, ho's, dope dealers and users as the main types of characters on TV. White American and mainstream programming isn't interested in what we like to see.
If Ebony is sold to non-blacks because they could not find a buyer(s) in the black community I for one will not buy Ebony or Jet any longer. You can believe that if they are sold to whites the first people to get pink slips will be the majority of the creative and talented African Americans. To be replaced by the dumb and ignorant. I'll leave that description vague and let you fill in who you think would be the dumb and ignorant.
I don't buy Essence anymore. They are owned by (Viacom) and isn't there enough rich white people in this country and world. I peruse the pages of Essence while waiting for my turn in the grocery line. I currently have a subscription with Ebony and Jet but the day they leave the hands of the Johnson family and come to rest with a non-black is the day we will part company. It's a real shame that of all the celebrities that have graced their covers over the decades couldn't help keep these magazines in the hands of the people they truly represent.
This is NOT just the celebrities responsibility to keep Ebony and Jet forever in our hands it's OURS too.
These magazines have given us what no other white publications would even consider; OUR WORDS, OUR VOICE, OUR LOOK,
OUR PEOPLE...
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By: pop james on 9/27/2009 11:47AM
Maybe Black Enterprise magazine should buy them. Black Enterprise magazine is a much better magazine. Black Enterprise is black own.
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By: lovingtiffanym on 9/27/2009 2:11AM
We can't be too upsest with who buys what if we don't purchase the products ourselves.
I, for one, turn to the word of God for much of my entertainment--seriously.Ebony has not arrested my attention for years, and why buy mags if Internet beats it to the punch--Geez.
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By: Charles on 9/27/2009 11:09AM
Ebony (Johnson Publishing) could have been BET, Blackplanet, TVOne etc but they were slow on the (internet + TV) uptake. Ebony owns a treasure trove of Black "history". If the magazine dies I hope they find a way to digitize much of it.
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By: Kalynn on 9/27/2009 9:50AM
Black folk....subscribe! Today!
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By: redmoody2 on 9/27/2009 3:50PM
I had a subscription to Ebony, but delivery was sporadic so I cancelled. When I would call Ebony to get a copy of the missed issue they would only extend my subscription. I hope the problems with the postal system isn't helping to put a nail in Ebony's coffin.
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By: Eilene on 9/27/2009 7:40PM
Tom Joyner if you can please mention to all your listeners that we must save Ebony Magazine. Over the week I read that Ebony is up for sale. Only last week you stated Fashion Fair will not tour this season. That's not good . Ebony has always been a positive influence in our community they have manage to bring such relevant stories upclose personal like Emmit Till ,Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King. We need this Platform for our community. They give very positive information on the first family. I don't won't Viacom to purchase Ebony. For example when BET change ownership look at what it has beome today a mess. Tom Joyner if you can contact Linda Johnson and ask how much will take. Our Black community can come together and buy a subscription and one for a friend. We need Ebony to conteract the hate and terrible lies being spread by Glenn Beck, Hannidy and Bill Orilley. Have a nice day Eilene
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