JET is an American weekly marketed toward African American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Initially billed as "The Weekly Negro News Magazine", Jet is notable for its role in chronicling the early days of the American Civil Rights movement from its earliest years including coverage of the Emmett Till murder, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Still published in small digest sized format, the magazine printed in all or mostly black and white until its 27 December 1999 issue. In 2009, Jet's publishing format was changed; it is now published every week, but a double issue is published at the end of each month.

Background Information

John H. Johnson was born on January 19, 1918 in Arkansas City, Arkansas.He was a very poor child growing up and his mother didn't make much money. She was a cook and a washerwoman for many years. She then saved enough money to move her family to Chicago for a better lifestyle.

When he came to Chicago, he was exposed to different class levels of African Americans. John H. Johnson attended DuSable High School.

Accomplishments

John H. Johnson is the founder of Johnson Publishing Company. The publishing company was created in November of 1942. He started the company with only a dream and a 500 dollar loan he received from his mother's business. Since his death, which was in August of 2005, Johnson left the company to his daughter Linda Johnson Rice. Johnson publishing company is not only the home of Ebony and Jet magazine but home to other brands. Some of those brands include Fashion Fair Cosmetics JPC Book Division. The Johnson publishing headquarters is located in Chicago, IL. But it also has global offices located in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit, London and Paris

The mission behind Johnson's publishing company is to increase the pride within African Americans by printing their past and their present achievements throughout the different magazines. They show these achievements through words, pictures, cosmetics, and fashion. Their mission also is to prove to African Americans that dreams really do come true.

Inside the Magazine

Jet magazine contains information on different topics that many people find interesting. Some of these topics include fashion and beauty tips, entertainment news, dating advice, political coverage, health tips and diet guides, and different advertisements.Jet magazine also covers many big events such as fashions shows.The publishing displays the picture in the magazines too.The big picture on the cover of the magazines usually tells what the main focus of the main story is.The main topics could include a celebrity's wedding or celebrating a special holiday.These holidays could be mother's day or father's day or just giving the cover to black women or black men. Many of them are given the cover to show the African American community that if they want to rich a goal that they have to be willing to work for it.It also gives young female adults inner confidence and strength because the women on the magazine are strong and successful without the help of a man.They were proving that they could do it all on their own.

Purchasing Jet Magazine

Many people can purchase Jet magazine for the local store or a news stand on the corners of major streets. But they can also pay for the subscriptions that the magazine offers.The subscription cost $30.97 for a year's subscription and you would receive 52 issues of Jet.Also in the magazine they give special offers on the postcards that are placed in the magazine.