Johnson, John; Johnson Publishing Company

Johnson Publishing Company, located in Chicago, is the largest African-American-owned publishing firm in the country, producing the magazines Ebony and Jet and recently partnered with RR Donnelley, an international integrated communications solution provider in the production of the two popular magazines. The company has 2,700 employees and also makes Supreme Beauty products and Fashion Fair cosmetics. Chairman and CEO John Johnson, who founded the firm in 1942, appointed his daughter Linda Johnson Rice as President and Chief Executive Office 2002.

Johnson Publishing Company is a career patron of unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Roland Burris (D).

From 1993 to 2001, Johnson Publishing Company gave $29,200 to candidates for Illinois statewide constitutional and legislative office, 81% of which was contributed to Democrats.

Last revised June 2011.