May 9, 2008
Linda Johnson Rice
Johnson Publishing
820 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
Good afternoon Ms. Johnson-Rice,
I'm writing you today out of concern for the editorial decision to have rapper Foxy Brown appear on the cover of the May 19th Jet magazine. As a fellow media professional, I understand clearly that it is common for record companies to construct media strategies which best showcase their artists and display them to the widest swath of audience available. I also understand the role of print media to offer timely, relevant stories which best appeal to the intended readership.
But more importantly...
I understand the reason(s) that Ebony and Jet magazines were created...and that did not include featuring felons on the cover, simply because the felon in question has a CD or new project in which to promote.
The release of Foxy Brown from jail, although "newsworthy" to some, sends the wrong message that "surviving jail," when featured on a magazine cover is either noteworthy or admirable in nature.
It is neither.
Such promotion only reinforces the stranglehold that prison has on our communities. Whereas Johnson Publishing can not control how Foxy Brown's record company seeks to promote its product, Johnson Publishing has ample control over how it promotes itself and the inherent social costs incurred.
The Mo'Kelly Report would like to record an interview with you prior to Monday 5.12.08 by phone in regards to this editorial decision and its implications; in advance of the weekly editorial column on EURWEB.com.
Feel free to reach me with the contact information contained below. I await your response.
Respectfully,
Morris W. O'Kelly
The Mo'Kelly Report
mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net
www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com
www.eurweb.com
cc: Jeanine Collins
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com.
Subscribe in a reader or by email
Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
3 comments:
Mo,
Bravo! Great letter and thanks for writing it. I hope it does some good. I have admired Ms Rice but am now wondering if my admiration has been misplaced.
Maybe Ms Rice is going the Debra Lee route. What a shame.
Monie
We'll see if anyone responds...if so...wonderful. If not...fine.
The editorial runs on Tuesday nonetheless, and it will be FAR reaching in nature. It would be in their best interest to respond...though I doubt they will. Too many questions that just can't be answered on their end. But they've been given the opportunity nonetheless.
Johnson Publishing can either address me (the situation) head on or just deal with the ensuing negative press come Tuesday.
I'm indifferent in that regard. Propping up Foxy like that is simply inexcusable.
I agree. Perhaps they are prepping the magazine for sale and are trying to get the most readers possible. At some point we have to stop showing our kids criminals and saying look how great they are.
Jet magazine should be a place for our heroes not our zeros!
and I wish she had dropped the name Foxy Brown, she doesnt do justice to the character Pam G was trying to play in the movie. I invited my girls to a Foxy Brown Movie showing and they all refused at first thinking it was the Foxy BRown who got out of jail.
Post a Comment