Columbia Journalism Review has an interesting feature article, “An Icon Fades” by Don Terry, that conducts a bit of analysis on the failure of Johnson Publications to transition from print publications of their flagship Ebony and Jet magazines into a strong position on the Internet.  Mr. Terry leads into his analysis of the African American icon with a brief bit of history.

Born November 1, 1945, Ebony showed off her glamour and vitality for decades. But she is tired now, debt-ridden and seriously ill, her once crystalline voice a raspy whisper. The black celebrities who once courted her now have other media suitors, thanks in no small part to the trail Ebony blazed. Too many readers and advertisers have followed them. “An Icon Fades” by  Don Terry.

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National Urban League partners with NBC owned theGriot.com, calls campaign “I am empowered.”

Yikes.

It is great to see a new media campaign by an historic black organization, somehow I feel we are right back debating about the mythical “black agenda,” and how relevant it is in the 21st century United States.  While the National Urban League deserves credit for trying to stay relevant and promote actual policy-based solutions to improve the lives of Black Americans.  I’m not sure whether I should laugh or cry at the ineptitude of launching a campaign to empower Black men and Women on a GE and Comcast owned NBC property.   Now, the National Urban League could be receiving a significant amount of in-kind contributions from NBC/ General Electric / Comcast, it is hard to know unless the National Urban League decides to be completely transparent about the advertising campaign.

Fair enough.
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