Ebony (magazine)

==Ensuing financial difficulties==
In July 2019, three months after Johnson Publishing Company filed for Chapter 7 [[Bankruptcy]] liquidation, it sold its historic photo archives including the prints and negatives to a consortium of foundations to be made available to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebony-and-jet-magazine-photo-archive/|title=Rare look inside the Ebony and Jet magazine photo archive that just sold for $30M|date=July 26, 2019|website=CBS News|language=en|access-date=July 27, 2019}}</ref><ref name="a&o">{{cite web|url=https://www.artandobject.com/shorts/foundations-unite-save-ebony-magazine-archives?|title=Foundations Unite to Save Ebony Magazine Archives|last1=Noyes|first1=Chandra|date=July 29, 2019|website=artandobject.com|publisher=Journalistic, Inc.|access-date=August 3, 2019}}</ref> After suspending the print edition of the magazine in May 2019, Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations laid off the majority of the editing staff in June 2019.<ref>N'dea Yancey-Bragg, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/media/2019/06/21/ebony-magazine-digital-staff-layoffs/1506283001/ "Ebony magazine's digital staff abruptly laid off without pay as asset auction looms"], ''USA Today'', June 21, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.</ref><ref>Miana Massey, [http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2019/07/07/national/ebony-and-jet-magazines-fire-remainder-of-staff-may-close/ "Ebony and Jet magazines fire remainder of staff, may close, Legacy publications beset by financial issues"], ''The Charlotte Post'', July 7, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.</ref>

===Lawsuits===
In 2017, 50 freelance writers created a social media campaign #EbonyOwes due to not being paid by the magazines' current owner, Clear View Group. In response to the campaign, Clear View Group made an effort to pay 11 of the 50 writers $18,000, ending with only three being paid in full. In late 2017, the remaining writers with the help of The [[National Writers Union]] filed suit against Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations.<ref name=YGY/>

The remaining writers settled their lawsuit with the company in February 2018. The magazine owners were ordered to pay $80,000<ref name=CHI>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ebony-settles-freelancer-lawsuit-20180227-story.html "Ebony to pay freelancers $80,000 to settle lawsuit after #EbonyOwes campaign"], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020.</ref> Ebony Media Operations, Clear View Group and the National Writers Union agreed that all unpaid invoices would be paid over four quarterly installments by the end of 2018.<ref name=CHI/> In October 2018, the magazines' owner missed its third quarter payment and another lawsuit was filed in November 2018. Clear View Group made the final payment to the writers in December 2018.<ref name=YGY/>