Editor-in-Chief Mitzi Miller Frequency Weekly Total circulation(June, 2012) 745,809 | Categories News Magazine Publisher Linda Johnson Rice | |
First issue November 1, 1951; 65 years ago (1951-11-01) | ||
Jet is a digital magazine. As an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, it was founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of the Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Initially billed as "The Weekly Negro News Magazine", Jet is notable for its role in chronicling the Civil Rights Movement from its earliest years, including coverage of the Emmett Till murder, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Contents
Published in small digest-sized format from its inception in 1951, Jet printed in all or mostly black-and-white until its December 27, 1999 issue. In 2009, Jet's publishing format was changed; it was published every week with a double issue published once each month. Johnson Publishing Company published the final print issue, June 23, 2014, continuing solely as a digital magazine app. In 2016, Johnson Publishing sold Jet and Ebony to private equity firm Clear View Group. The new publishing company will be known as Ebony Media Corporation.
History
Jet magazine was started in 1951. Johnson called his magazine Jet because, as he said in the first issue, "In the world today everything is moving along at a faster clip. There is more news and far less time to read it." Redd Foxx called the magazine "the Negro bible." Jet became nationally famous in 1955 with its shocking and graphic coverage of the murder of Emmett Till. Its ubiquity was enhanced by its continuing coverage of the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement.
Content
Jet contained fashion and beauty tips, entertainment news, dating advice, political coverage, health tips, and diet guides, in addition to covering events such as fashion shows. The cover photo usually corresponds to the focus of the main story. Some examples of cover stories might be a celebrity's wedding, Mother's Day, or a recognition of the achievements of a notable African American. Many issues are given coverage to show the African-American community that if they want to reach a goal, they have to be willing to work for it. Jet also claims to give young female adults confidence and strength because the women featured therein are strong and successful without the help of a man. Since 1952, Jet has had a full-page feature called "Beauty of the Week". This feature includes a photograph of an African-American woman in a swimsuit (either one-piece or two-piece, but never nude), along with her name, place of residence, profession, hobbies, and interests. Many of the women are not professional models and submit their photographs for the magazine's consideration. The purpose of the feature is to promote the beauty of African-American women.
Like the other leading black magazine, Essence, Jet routinely deplored racism in mainstream media, especially in the negative depictions of black men and women. However Hazell and Clarke report that Jet and Essence in 2003-4 themselves ran advertising that was pervaded with racism and white supremacy.