get these nets
Veteran
@ab.aspectus relayed the story to me originally
============================================
listen to the story here
Ed Gordon interviewing RM
or read it
==============================================================
============================================
listen to the story here
Ed Gordon interviewing RM
or read it
ROLAND S. MARTIN: Oprah's silence on John H. Johnson confounds many
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
August 25, 2005
The top African Americans in media have all either commented on the death of John H. Johnson and/or made their way to his funeral, which was attended by 2,000 people.
BET founder Bob Johnson. Black Enterprise founder Earl Graves. Radio One founder Cathy Hughes. Essence Communications co-founder Ed Lewis. Time Warner Chairman and CEO dikk Parsons. TV One CEO Johnathan Rodgers. TV host Tavis Smiley. Nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner. de Passe Entertainment President Suzanne de Passe. Bryan Monroe, president, National Association of Black Journalists.
Locally, N'Digo and Savoy publisher Hermene Hartman; WVON-AM/1450 CEO Melody Spann-Cooper; yours truly, and countless others media types offered their perspective on what John H. Johnson and his Johnson Publishing Company meant to Chicago, Illinois, the nation and the world.
So where was Oprah?
Since Johnson's death on Aug. 8, the Chicago Defender has placed at least six calls to her Harpo Productions headquarters and haven't received a single word from the media diva.
We first called moments after we found out about his death, and we were told that Winfrey was attending a staff conference in California and could not be reached. We then called later that week and were informed that nothing would happen until at least Monday, Aug. 15.
T he Defender then called on the day of the funeral - especially after noticing, along with many others, that Winfrey didn't attend the homegoing service - and were told that there was no statement. As we prepared our commemorative edition for Johnson, which will be in tomorrow's Defender, we gave her staff ample time to get a statement together.
Still, nothing.
We even called again yesterday and pretty much were told that nothing would be forthcoming.
I've been fielding phone calls and emails from many of the folks in the Black media world over Winfrey's apparent snub of the man who single handedly made it possible for people like Oprah to launch their own magazines and media companies.
As a reporter, there is no doubt in my mind there is a back story here. Not only is there not a comment from Oprah in Jet's commemorative issue - on newsstands now - my sources tell me that Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson's daughter and CEO of the Johnson Publishing Company, nor her mother and Mr. Johnson's widow, Eunice, have received a call, card or letter of condolence from Winfrey (Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, also have not phoned or released any public statement regarding Johnson, according to my sources. How's that for gratitude?).
We've all speculated as to the apparent omission by O, which runs the gamut from a nasty feud between the two media giants or Winfrey waiting to do her own special TV tribute when she returns from the summer break in September.
Maybe the bad blood originated with Ebony's September 2003 article listing Sheila Johnson, the ex-wife of BET's Bob Johnson and a co-founder of the company, as "America's first Black female billionaire," even though most folks consider Oprah to be the first.
Regardless of what the reason is, it looks pretty bad when an industry giant based in Chicago passes, and another industry giant in the same city says nothing, especially considering how Ebony and Jet played a role in catapulting Winfrey to massive heights by running her on their covers countless times.
In a July 1995 Ebony cover story by Laura B. Randolph, Oprah discussed why she wanted to move her show away from the trash TV talks show that dominated the landscape.
"The fact that I was created a Black woman in this lifetime, everything in my life is built around honoring that," she said. "I feel a sense of reverence to that. I hold it sacred. And so I am always asking the question, `What do I owe in service having been created a Black woman?"
The theme sort of reminds me of why Johnson wanted to create Negro Digest, and then Ebony and Jet: to tell our stories that no one else cared about, as well as honoring Black men and women across the world.
He did it, and we are so much better off for it.
Oprah, we're proud of your achievements with the TV show, movies and the magazines, but as a media friend of mine said about your lack of a public statement, "It's all about respect. He deserves it.
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
August 25, 2005
The top African Americans in media have all either commented on the death of John H. Johnson and/or made their way to his funeral, which was attended by 2,000 people.
BET founder Bob Johnson. Black Enterprise founder Earl Graves. Radio One founder Cathy Hughes. Essence Communications co-founder Ed Lewis. Time Warner Chairman and CEO dikk Parsons. TV One CEO Johnathan Rodgers. TV host Tavis Smiley. Nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner. de Passe Entertainment President Suzanne de Passe. Bryan Monroe, president, National Association of Black Journalists.
Locally, N'Digo and Savoy publisher Hermene Hartman; WVON-AM/1450 CEO Melody Spann-Cooper; yours truly, and countless others media types offered their perspective on what John H. Johnson and his Johnson Publishing Company meant to Chicago, Illinois, the nation and the world.
So where was Oprah?
Since Johnson's death on Aug. 8, the Chicago Defender has placed at least six calls to her Harpo Productions headquarters and haven't received a single word from the media diva.
We first called moments after we found out about his death, and we were told that Winfrey was attending a staff conference in California and could not be reached. We then called later that week and were informed that nothing would happen until at least Monday, Aug. 15.
T he Defender then called on the day of the funeral - especially after noticing, along with many others, that Winfrey didn't attend the homegoing service - and were told that there was no statement. As we prepared our commemorative edition for Johnson, which will be in tomorrow's Defender, we gave her staff ample time to get a statement together.
Still, nothing.
We even called again yesterday and pretty much were told that nothing would be forthcoming.
I've been fielding phone calls and emails from many of the folks in the Black media world over Winfrey's apparent snub of the man who single handedly made it possible for people like Oprah to launch their own magazines and media companies.
As a reporter, there is no doubt in my mind there is a back story here. Not only is there not a comment from Oprah in Jet's commemorative issue - on newsstands now - my sources tell me that Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson's daughter and CEO of the Johnson Publishing Company, nor her mother and Mr. Johnson's widow, Eunice, have received a call, card or letter of condolence from Winfrey (Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, also have not phoned or released any public statement regarding Johnson, according to my sources. How's that for gratitude?).
We've all speculated as to the apparent omission by O, which runs the gamut from a nasty feud between the two media giants or Winfrey waiting to do her own special TV tribute when she returns from the summer break in September.
Maybe the bad blood originated with Ebony's September 2003 article listing Sheila Johnson, the ex-wife of BET's Bob Johnson and a co-founder of the company, as "America's first Black female billionaire," even though most folks consider Oprah to be the first.
Regardless of what the reason is, it looks pretty bad when an industry giant based in Chicago passes, and another industry giant in the same city says nothing, especially considering how Ebony and Jet played a role in catapulting Winfrey to massive heights by running her on their covers countless times.
In a July 1995 Ebony cover story by Laura B. Randolph, Oprah discussed why she wanted to move her show away from the trash TV talks show that dominated the landscape.
"The fact that I was created a Black woman in this lifetime, everything in my life is built around honoring that," she said. "I feel a sense of reverence to that. I hold it sacred. And so I am always asking the question, `What do I owe in service having been created a Black woman?"
The theme sort of reminds me of why Johnson wanted to create Negro Digest, and then Ebony and Jet: to tell our stories that no one else cared about, as well as honoring Black men and women across the world.
He did it, and we are so much better off for it.
Oprah, we're proud of your achievements with the TV show, movies and the magazines, but as a media friend of mine said about your lack of a public statement, "It's all about respect. He deserves it.
==============================================================
Oprah 'furious' at alleged snub of Johnson
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
August 26, 2005
"Roland, this is Oprah."
That was the beginning of a 15-minute conversation Thursday with media mogul Oprah Winfrey regarding my column in today's edition of the Chicago Defender about her apparent snub of John H. Johnson, the founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, who died on Aug. 8.
I wrote that Winfrey had not made a public statement regarding Johnson - we called six times to get one - and that she also didn't attend the funeral.
Her reaction?
"I am furious at the allegations because it's just not true," Oprah told me. "It's not true and it's unfair."
"I did send flowers and I did send a note" to Johnson's widow, Eunice, and daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, Oprah said, even offering to provide a copy of the actual note and confirmation of the flowers being received at Johnson Publishing Company headquarters. I told her that was unnecessary because her word was good enough for me.
Winfrey, who was quite respectful while clearly being ticked off at the column - as well as similar references made by other journalists - said that when Johnson died, she was in Hawaii, and didn't immediately get word of his death. She also said that her visit there rendered her unable to get back for the funeral.
Winfrey then said that regarding her staff, "nobody asked me for a personal statement." But when I told her that we inquired about such a statement - I even called personally - she said that maybe it didn't get through because her staff understands that "I normally don't make public statements," preferring to use her show - seen daily by 30 million viewers - as the vehicle to respond.
While noting that "I didn't have a personal relationship" with Mr. Johnson, Oprah said that she had the utmost respect for him and the company he built into a $500 million powerhouse.
She backed up her relationship over the years with Johnson Publishing Company with a couple of revealing stories.
Winfrey said that it's not her policy to offer words of appreciation for books written by authors, but when asked by Mr. Johnson for such a comment for several works published by his book division, she did so.
"He's the only living person I've done that for," she said.
When Ebony celebrated its 50th anniversary 10 years ago, she was asked by Mr. Johnson to participate in the event. When looking at those in attendance, Winfrey publicly asked where were all the celebrities who have graced the covers of Ebony and Jet over the years and why they weren't there, echoing a similar refrain offered by a number of journalists who noted the absence of such celebrities at Johnson's August 15 funeral.
Oprah said she knows about the legacy of John H. Johnson and what he has meant for African Americans, and was hurt by the column because "you don't know in my heart what I stand for."
She said that she was equally offended because she had already planned on honoring Mr. Johnson via her TV show, along with Luther Vandross, who passed away on July 1.
Winfrey said she returns from her summer hiatus on Sept. 13, and will be sure to tell us when the tribute to Mr. Johnson and Vandross will air.
She also stressed that it is her preference to give people their flowers while they are living, noting that she had done such a thing for Sidney Poitier. And of course, the Defender reported on the lavish "Legends Ball" she put on in May for Black women who paved the way for others in entertainment, the arts and civil rights.
I made it clear to Oprah that as a reporter, I don't fly off the cuff and write something without making every available effort to gain the truth. We did that by calling. And I know several other journalists who did the same. But this is also about fairness, and I refuse to hide behind the notion that we did our part by calling repeatedly, and that the column will stand. And as she said by virtue of access to media, "you have a lot of power like I have a lot of power," it will be wrong for Black Chicago - and others across the nation - to have the view that Winfrey snubbed Johnson if she didn't.
Oprah, like I promised you, I'm running this piece in the same spot as Thursday's column, and it will be teased on the cover in the same spot, and on ChicagoDefender.com.
And I'll even extend an olive branch by offering to take you out to lunch at Wishbone, just down the street from your headquarters. My treat.
Roland S. Martin is executive editor of the Chicago Defender, the nation's only Black daily newspaper, and a commentator for TV One Cable Network. His columns are syndicated to newspapers nationwide by ©Creators Syndicate.
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
August 26, 2005
"Roland, this is Oprah."
That was the beginning of a 15-minute conversation Thursday with media mogul Oprah Winfrey regarding my column in today's edition of the Chicago Defender about her apparent snub of John H. Johnson, the founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, who died on Aug. 8.
I wrote that Winfrey had not made a public statement regarding Johnson - we called six times to get one - and that she also didn't attend the funeral.
Her reaction?
"I am furious at the allegations because it's just not true," Oprah told me. "It's not true and it's unfair."
"I did send flowers and I did send a note" to Johnson's widow, Eunice, and daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, Oprah said, even offering to provide a copy of the actual note and confirmation of the flowers being received at Johnson Publishing Company headquarters. I told her that was unnecessary because her word was good enough for me.
Winfrey, who was quite respectful while clearly being ticked off at the column - as well as similar references made by other journalists - said that when Johnson died, she was in Hawaii, and didn't immediately get word of his death. She also said that her visit there rendered her unable to get back for the funeral.
Winfrey then said that regarding her staff, "nobody asked me for a personal statement." But when I told her that we inquired about such a statement - I even called personally - she said that maybe it didn't get through because her staff understands that "I normally don't make public statements," preferring to use her show - seen daily by 30 million viewers - as the vehicle to respond.
While noting that "I didn't have a personal relationship" with Mr. Johnson, Oprah said that she had the utmost respect for him and the company he built into a $500 million powerhouse.
She backed up her relationship over the years with Johnson Publishing Company with a couple of revealing stories.
Winfrey said that it's not her policy to offer words of appreciation for books written by authors, but when asked by Mr. Johnson for such a comment for several works published by his book division, she did so.
"He's the only living person I've done that for," she said.
When Ebony celebrated its 50th anniversary 10 years ago, she was asked by Mr. Johnson to participate in the event. When looking at those in attendance, Winfrey publicly asked where were all the celebrities who have graced the covers of Ebony and Jet over the years and why they weren't there, echoing a similar refrain offered by a number of journalists who noted the absence of such celebrities at Johnson's August 15 funeral.
Oprah said she knows about the legacy of John H. Johnson and what he has meant for African Americans, and was hurt by the column because "you don't know in my heart what I stand for."
She said that she was equally offended because she had already planned on honoring Mr. Johnson via her TV show, along with Luther Vandross, who passed away on July 1.
Winfrey said she returns from her summer hiatus on Sept. 13, and will be sure to tell us when the tribute to Mr. Johnson and Vandross will air.
She also stressed that it is her preference to give people their flowers while they are living, noting that she had done such a thing for Sidney Poitier. And of course, the Defender reported on the lavish "Legends Ball" she put on in May for Black women who paved the way for others in entertainment, the arts and civil rights.
I made it clear to Oprah that as a reporter, I don't fly off the cuff and write something without making every available effort to gain the truth. We did that by calling. And I know several other journalists who did the same. But this is also about fairness, and I refuse to hide behind the notion that we did our part by calling repeatedly, and that the column will stand. And as she said by virtue of access to media, "you have a lot of power like I have a lot of power," it will be wrong for Black Chicago - and others across the nation - to have the view that Winfrey snubbed Johnson if she didn't.
Oprah, like I promised you, I'm running this piece in the same spot as Thursday's column, and it will be teased on the cover in the same spot, and on ChicagoDefender.com.
And I'll even extend an olive branch by offering to take you out to lunch at Wishbone, just down the street from your headquarters. My treat.
Roland S. Martin is executive editor of the Chicago Defender, the nation's only Black daily newspaper, and a commentator for TV One Cable Network. His columns are syndicated to newspapers nationwide by ©Creators Syndicate.
Last edited:
