Rice Names Bryan Monroe Vice President for EBONY, JET Magazines

Johnson Publishing Company President and CEO Linda Johnson Rice today appointed Bryan Monroe vice president and editorial director of EBONY and JET Magazines. Monroe, formerly assistant vice president for news at Knight Ridder Inc. and current president of the National Association of Black Journalists, takes the position effective August 1.

“This newly created position will be integral to Johnson Publishing Company as EBONY and JET move toward an exciting future,” said Rice.  “Bryan’s knowledge and expertise will be a tremendous complement to the JPC editorial family and we are pleased to have his input in shaping the future direction of the magazines.”

Monroe’s distinguished career in journalism includes 16 years at various Knight Ridder papers. At the San Jose Mercury News, he rose to the position of deputy managing editor, after serving as an assistant managing editor, reporter, assistant city editor and design director.  He also led Knight Ridder’s efforts during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, helping the staff of the newspaper in Biloxi, Mississippi, publish continuously throughout the deadly storm and its aftermath. His and the team’s efforts have since been awarded with the 2006 Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service. Monroe also has received the Award of Valor from the National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME) for work during the coverage of the storm.  In 2003, he completed a year at Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow, the oldest and most prestigious fellowship in American journalism.

“I welcome the opportunity to work with these icons that I’ve known all my life and to help create a new chapter in their history,” said Monroe, who noted that he grew up with EBONY and JET magazines.  “I look forward to making JET even more cutting edge in its news coverage and expanding even more on EBONY’s legacy and excellence.”

Rice announced Monroe’s appointment Friday to EBONY, JET and Johnson Publishing Company executives, including EBONY’s Editor Emeritus Lerone Bennett Jr., during a welcome luncheon at the company’s Chicago headquarters.