Vanguarde Media Names Roy S. Johnson Editorial Director

Posted on April 4, 2000

Award-winning veteran journalist Roy S. Johnson has joined Vanguarde Media as Editorial Director, it was announced by Keith Clinkscales, Chairman and CEO of Vanguarde Media. Johnson most recently held the position of Editor-at-Large at Fortune. Johnson, 44, will manage the editorial operations and guide the editorial direction of Vanguarde Media's publications, which include Honey, Impact, BET Weekend, Emerge and Heart & Soul. The editors-in-chief of each publication will report to Johnson.

Johnson will also provide editorial guidance for Vanguarde Neomedia's internet properties, which are still in development. Vanguarde Neomedia is the internet division of Vanguarde Media.

``Having known Roy since my days at Time Inc., I am extremely excited about his joining the Vanguarde team,'' says Clinkscales, the former VIBE president who launched Vanguarde Media in May 1999. ``Roy is simply one of the most qualified and experienced journalists in his field. His expertise in creating and developing content will enhance our journalistic standards, challenge our thinking, create an even stronger voice that speaks to our diverse readership, and help build the Vanguarde brand.''

Johnson joins Vanguarde media after a 14-year career at Time Inc., where he held senior editorial positions at Sports Illustrated, Money and Fortune. Johnson joined Fortune in January 1997.

``I am honored and humbled to have been asked to help lead Vanguarde into what I believe will be a tremendously bright future,'' says Johnson. ``Keith is one of the rising stars in publishing. I hope to help him fulfill the vision and mission with which he founded this great company. Together, we will continue to create and develop publications that not only entertain, inform and empower our multicultural readers but also become part of our history, our growth and our consciousness.''