Johnson, John H.

Johnson, John H.

▪ American publisher
in full  John Harold Johnson 
born January 19, 1918, Arkansas City, Arkansas, U.S.
died August 8, 2005, Chicago, Illinois

      magazine and book publisher, the first African American to attain major success in those fields.

      Johnson and his family settled in Chicago after visiting that city during the 1933 World's Fair. He later became an honour student at Du Sable High School in Chicago, where he was managing editor of the school paper and business manager of the yearbook. Those experiences influenced his choice of journalism as a career. While studying at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, Johnson worked for a life insurance company that marketed to African American customers. There he conceived the idea of a magazine for blacks; in 1942 he began publication of Negro Digest. Its first issue sold some 3,000 copies, and within a year the monthly circulation was 50,000. From that beginning, Johnson launched Ebony, a general-interest magazine catering to an African American audience, in 1945. Ebony's initial pressrun of 25,000 copies was completely sold out. By the early 21st century it had a circulation of some 1.7 million.

      Johnson went on to create other black publications, including Jet magazine in 1951. His firm, Johnson Publishing Company, later diversified into book publishing, radio broadcasting, insurance, and cosmetics manufacturing. In the 1980s Linda Johnson Rice, his daughter, began assuming management of the company. Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Johnson,John Arthur — Johnson, John Arthur. Known as “Jack.” 1878 1946. American prizefighter. He was the first Black world heavyweight champion (1908 1915). * * * …   Universalium

  • Johnson, John —    T Returned for St. John, 25 …   The makers of Canada

  • Johnson, John Harold — ▪ 2006       American business executive and publisher (b. Jan. 19, 1918, Arkansas City, Ark. d. Aug. 8, 2005, Chicago, Ill.), parlayed a $500 loan, secured against his mother s furniture, into one of the largest media empires in the United… …   Universalium

  • Johnson, John H(arold) — born Jan. 19, 1918, Arkansas City, Ark., U.S. U.S. magazine and book publisher. He moved to Chicago with his family and became a journalist. He introduced Negro Digest, a periodical for blacks, in 1942. Three years later he launched Ebony, a… …   Universalium

  • Johnson, John H(arold) — (n. 19 ene. 1918, Arkansas City, Ark., EE.UU.). Editor estadounidense de revistas y libros. Se trasladó a Chicago con su familia y se dedicó al periodismo. En 1942 fundó el Negro Digest, una revista para afroamericanos. Tres años después lanzó… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Johnson, John —    , London, 1753 …   Violins and Violin Makers. Biographical Dictionary

  • Johnson, John M. — (1818 1868)    T Solicitor general, New Brunswick, 32 33; member of Fisher ministry, postmaster general, 43; attorney general, delegate to Quebec Conference, 77; elected for Northumberland as Confederation candidate, 107; goes to England as… …   The makers of Canada

  • John Adams (Politiker) — John Adams John Adams (* 30. Oktober 1735 in Braintree, Suffolk County, Massachusetts[1]; † 4. Juli 1826 in Quincy, Massachusetts) war von 1789 bis 1797 der erste Vizepräsident und …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Adams (US-Präsident) — John Adams John Adams (* 30. Oktober 1735 in Braintree, Suffolk County, Massachusetts[1]; † 4. Juli 1826 in Quincy, Massachusetts) war von 1789 bis 1797 der erste Vizepräsident und …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Cabell Breckenridge — John C. Breckinridge (1821–1875) John Cabell Breckinridge (* 21. Januar 1821 Lexington, Kentucky; † 17. Mai 1875 ebenda) war Offizier der United States Army, Vizepräsident der Vereinigten Staaten und Senator für den Bundesstaat Kentucky. Im… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”