The Campaign to Save Ebony and Jet Magazines

UPDATE: On April 24 Johnson Publishing announced the resignation of Bryan Monroe as editorial director of Ebony and Jet magazines. This follows two high-profile appointments at the company during the same week: former Newsday associate editor Mira Lowe as editor-in-chief of Jet; and former INROADS vice president Tanya M. Hines, as vice president of integrated sales and marketing for Ebony and Jet. Insiders say the company is reeling from the effects of the recession and a reorganization of its staff.

+Read More Hot Commentary On: Bossip.com

The black blogosphere is buzzing with the rumor that two media staples of the African American community are on the verge of disappearing. In February, Black Enterprise magazine announced that Ebony and Jet magazines were "restructuring to avoid layoffs," with the cheerful sub-headline: "Johnson Publishing Co. employees told to reapply for jobs."

Now in late April, people are e-mailing, tweeting and talking about the possible irrevocable demise of the only media brands every black person in America knows. Some are even starting a campaign to save the magazines with a subscription drive. A quote via the site Racialicious:

In order to support this effort to save our magazine, my friends and myself have pledged to get a subscription to both Ebony and Jet magazine, starting with one year. We are urging every other club member who comes across this plea to do the same. Please post, repost, and post again, to any blog that you may own or support.

Please email this to every person that you know, regardless of their background. Let them know that Ebony and Jet magazines have been part of the black American culture for three quarters of a century, and that there is a lot that they can learn about black American culture from reading them.

We are currently discussing the idea of throwing an Ebony/Jet Party, where people can eat, drink, and sign up for their subscription on the spot. Please spread this idea around to all that you know. Your Sororities, Fraternities, Lodges, VFW Posts, Churches, Civic Groups, Block Clubs, Caps Meetings, Book Clubs, etc.

It would be a crying shame, to lose our historic magazine, during the same year of such an historic event as the election of our first black President of the United States.

The financial industry may have received a bail out, but the only people who will bail out black media outlets is us. But, Tami (the author of the post) questions whether either of these publications is worth saving in an era of blogs and Web sites.

Michelle Obama Covers

Us Weekly: June 2008
Wondering "why Barack loves her?" Us sought to answer that relatively easy question last June.

Us Magazine

The New Yorker: July 2008
The magazine's editor claimed satire. However, no one but Obama's G.O.P. detractors found the depiction of Michelle as an armed militant and Barack as a terrorist particularly funny.

New Yorker/AP

Radar: September 2008
Using a doctored photo, Radar splashed an austere image on its cover and asked "What's So Scary About Michelle Obama?" The question was in response to anti-Michelle backlash.

Radar

Ladies Home Journal: September 2008
In a joint Q&A with her husband, Michelle told LHJ, "Finding balance has been the struggle of my life and my marriage, in being a woman, being a professional, being a mother."

Ebony: September 2008
Back when she was just a "first lady hopeful", Mrs. Obama spoke to Ebony about family and the future. As an added bonus, her mom Marian Robinson dished to the mag as well.

Ebony

Essence: September 2008
It seems like most magazine covers with one or more members of the Obama clan on them are deemed "Collector's Editions." This family-centric cover is no exception.

Essence

More: October 2008
As the presidential election neared, Michelle Obama started popping up on a wide range of magazine covers. Here she is on the cover of More, a magazine for women over 40.

More Magazine

Us Weekly: November 2008
In the days following Barack's historic election, the weekly tabloid turned political, spotlighting then-President-elect and Michelle's "Amazing Journey."

Us Magazine

OK! Weekly: November 2008
The editors at OK! claimed to know what Michelle is really like and offered a look into her private world, including "date nights with Barack."

OK! Magazine

Essence: January 2009
The famous black women's mag obviously was one of the first to put the new first lady on its cover. With a long-sleeved gown and a satisfied smile, Michelle looks like she's ready for her new role.

Essence

Plus, she points out: "An example of Johnson Publishing's out-of-touchness? Sunday at the neighborhood Wal-Mart, I picked up a Jet for the first time in forever, in preparation for this post. I wanted to know if it was still there. In an age when black women are fighting stereotyped images of ourselves as Jezebels, playthings and accoutrement for the latest hip hop star whose cuts are banging in the whips of white, teenage suburbanites – it couldn't still be there. But, yeah, center spread, there it was – that paean to black woman thickitude – the Jet Beauty of the Week, a young, black woman in a teeny swimsuit giving sexy face. Is this what I'm supposed to rush to the battlements to save?" Beautifully said.

In addition to the relevance of Ebony/Jet content, there are the questions of its rate of delivery, and the action potential of its information. While Jet's "Pictures of the Week" are nice, it's more politically and socially relevant when black blogs like Bossip use their platform to change opinion. In a recent example, the gossip blog used their media muscle to push for Barack Obama during his campaign, while brutally punishing black celebrities who initially supported Hillary Clinton. Can you imagine Jet referring to Magic Johnson, former BET owner Bob Johnson and Jesse Jackson as "old-time negroes with 'plantation politics'"? Bossip was not afraid to. I bet they encouraged many young blacks to vote through their irreverent reporting.

We have Kanye West commenting on his own blog after being satirized by 'South Park,' with his blog post then getting picked up by major news outlets. We have Snoop Dogg clearing up rumors of his wife's death over Twitter. We have the first black president using YouTube to speak directly to his constituents every week. Where does Johnson Publishing Co. fit in in this new age? Can they catch up? Will you support them?