Jamie Foster Brown facts for kids

Jamie Foster Brown was born around June 26, 1946. She is well-known as the former owner and publisher of Sister 2 Sister magazine. This popular magazine was published from 1988 to 2014. Newsweek magazine once called Sister 2 Sister the "African-American version of People magazine." Jamie Foster Brown also wrote a regular column in her magazine called "Meow." Through her column and interviews with famous people, she became the first nationally recognized black female entertainment journalist who shared news about celebrities.

About Jamie Foster Brown

Jamie Foster Brown grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She and her sister, Stella Foster, were raised in the Englewood neighborhood. Their parents, Peter James and Mamie Lee Foster, owned local stores. Jamie went to Calumet High School. She started college in Chicago and later moved to Stockholm University, where she earned her bachelor's degree.

Her sister, Stella Foster, also wrote for Sister 2 Sister magazine. Stella worked with Irv Kupcinet, a well-known entertainment journalist at the Chicago Sun-Times. After he passed away, Stella wrote her own column until she retired in 2012.

Jamie Foster Brown was married to Dr. Lorenzo Brown, who was an economist. They were married from 1970 until his death in 2015. The family lived in Stockholm, Sweden, for nine years. During this time, they had two sons, Randy and Russell. Both her husband and her two sons later worked for Sister 2 Sister magazine.

Her Career Journey

Jamie Foster Brown once worked for the Zenith Radio Company in Chicago.

In 1979, she started her own company called Washington Theater Group, which sold tickets. Later, she worked for Robert Johnson's Black Entertainment Television (BET). She began as a secretary in advertising. She was then promoted to a TV producer for shows like Video Soul and Video LP. She left BET in 1987. As a TV producer, Jamie met many music stars, including Whitney Houston. She later used these connections for her magazine reporting. Jamie has often said that she sees herself more as an interviewer and storyteller than a writer. She wanted to share stories about how celebrities became famous. She got the idea for her own magazine while writing for Impact magazine and other publications.

Jamie Foster Brown launched Sister 2 Sister magazine in 1988 and was its owner and publisher. The magazine was first published from Lanham, Maryland, and later from Takoma Park, Maryland. To expand her brand, Jamie also created a radio show called Sister 2 Sister Celebrity Update. While working on Sister 2 Sister, she was a regular guest on the Joan Rivers Show and the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Important Journalism Work

Jamie Foster Brown is known for her in-depth interviews. She made sure to show black celebrities as real people, not just superficial stars.

She is known for an interview in Sister 2 Sister magazine with former Washington, D.C. mayor Marion S. Barry. In this interview, Barry talked about his experiences in public life.

Brown also reported on the musical group Milli Vanilli and how they used lip-syncing for their recordings and performances.

In 2008, a legal case involving rap artist DMX resulted in him being ordered to pay money. This was related to a comment he made in a 2006 interview with Jamie Foster Brown for Sister 2 Sister magazine.

Jamie Foster Brown was also interviewed about Michael Jackson. She shared that his children seemed well-adjusted. She felt that Jackson appeared to be a good father.

Awards and Recognition

Jamie Foster Brown has received many awards for her work:

• Midwest Radio and Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, 1998
• National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment, Shero Hall of Fame, 2002 inductee
• Golden Scissors (black hair style), Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002
• Association for Women in Communications, Matrix Award for Professional Achievement, 2004
• Bennett College, honorary doctorate, 2008
• Ford Motor Co., Freedom Sisters Award, 2009
• T.H.E. B.L.A.C.K.W.O.O.D Worldwide - Matriarch Pioneer of Jubilee 2024
• Cafe Mocha Radio - 2014 Trailblazer Award
• Legendary Awards - Media Icon Award 2013

Selected Writings

• Shabazz, Betty, and Jamie Foster Brown. 1998. Betty Shabazz: a sisterfriends' tribute in words and pictures. New York: Simon & Schuster.