• by Sara Guaglione , June 21, 2019

Two-storied African-American focused magazines have let go of their digital staff without pay, according to multiple sources.

The New York Post and The Root reported at least seven staffers were let go, including Ebony’s director of social media Joshua David, content director Sunny Singh, three digital writers, one videographer and two ad staffers.

A number of employees are waiting on back pay from May, with some reportedly owed thousands in payment.

Ebony and Jet magazine were acquired in 2016 by Clear View Group, a private-equity firm, from 71-year-old Johnson Publishing. Founder John Johnson launched Ebony in 1945 to address political and social issues affecting African-Americans.

The print edition of Ebony was shuttered soon after the acquisition. Jet had already closed its print operations prior to the buy, moving to digital in 2014.

Currently, both magazine sites remain up. The top Ebony story is dated June 20; the Jet stories are dated mid-to-late May.

Failure to pay has been an ongoing problem for Ebony.

In September 2017, The National Writers Union filed a lawsuit against Ebony in Cook County Circuit Court, the magazine’s former home in Chicago, on behalf of 38 freelancers. The plaintiffs joined together to demand belated payments totaling over $70,000.