Late last year, former NBA basketball player Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman had emerged as the successful bidder for Ebony Media’s assets by a Houston bankruptcy court. Bridgeman placed a bid of $14 million to take ownership of the company. In Bridgeman’s latest move, Bridgeman Sports & Media has hired Michele Ghee as CEO of Ebony and Jet.
“Everything we say will come through the lens of Black journalists. We will ensure there is a safe space for Black journalism to thrive. I’m a little Black girl from Oakland, CA. I’m not apologizing for any of it. Our voices matter. We are History in the making!” said the media executive, who has also gone by the name Michele Thorton Ghee, a written statement.
New owner Eden Bridgeman states, “We are honored to have Michele Ghee at the helm to steward these iconic brands. With a proven track record over a storied career thus far and a passion to bring her life experiences to Ebony and Jet we are excited at the future she will create. The next chapter of Ebony and Jet’s history will be told for generations to come and having her continue to authentically document, innovate, and uplift the culture will be keys to our success.”
“Our brands’ main responsibility will be to focus completely on what our beloved audience wants and needs with bold, informed editorial, brilliant content, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded people. Paying homage to Mr. Johnson’s legacy means that my team will carve-out and create our own path. We will NOT succumb to the status quo,” Ghee said.
Ghee has worked in the media and entertainment for over 25 years. She has helped generate billions of dollars in revenue while working with the likes of WME, CNN, A&E, The History Channel, and BET Networks. During her time at BET, Ghee created and ran the first and only network for Black women, BETHer.