Congressman Jackson Pays Tribute To John H. Johnson

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., said today, "John H. Johnson, the tallest tree in the publishing forest, died today and he will be sorely missed. The founder and chairman of the Johnson Publishing Company is best known for publishing Ebony Magazine, which he founded in 1945, and Jet Magazine, founded in 1951.

"Mr. Johnson was a pioneer and an entrepreneur who had a unique vision. He was one of us telling our story in a way that was both accurate and respectful of our experience. While he dealt fully with all the news in the African American community - the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly - he dealt with it fairly and in a balanced way. In the entire mix of reporting, he constantly projected new and positive images of African Americans to our community and around the world. His was an invaluable contribution.

"As a tribune to his lifetime of work in the communications industry, the School of Communications at Howard University was recently (2003) officially named the `John H. Johnson School of Communications.'

"He was known primarily as a publishing pioneer and giant in the magazine industry, but his company also owns several radio stations, a book publishing company and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, known for its cutting edge fashion shows around the world.

"John H. Johnson's interest in journalism began in the 1930s as editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper. He attended the University of Chicago on a scholarship. Johnson began his working life at the Supreme Life Insurance Company where he prepared a weekly digest about the African American community, which gave him the idea of a magazine.

"His work will be carried on by, among others, his wife Gertrude Johnson and daughter Linda Johnson Rice, who is the current CEO and President of Johnson Publishing Company," Jackson concluded.