It is no secret that Ebony Magazine-America's one-time venerable go-to publication for black entertainment and political news-is floundering as the newspaper and magazine industries dissipate, triggered by shifting paradigms.

Rumors and speculation abound that Linda Johnson Rice, who took over the reigns following the death of her father John H. Johnson, is putting Ebony up for sale, though she has yet to confirm it. (Her mother, Eunice, also died recently.)

The latest name to surface as an interested party was Magic Johnson. But he told Richard Prince of Journal-isms that talks were off because he was unable to reach an agreement with the company. Johnson Publishing Co. has declined to discuss the matter.

But some insiders and former employees say Ebony's declining circulation and shrinking ad dollars have less to do with the magazine industry's seismic shift from print to cyberspace, but more to do with stunningly bad leadership and management.

Zondra Hughes, a former associate editor at Ebony who is now editor of Chicago's N'Digo magapaper, writes in her new memoir, 'Living the Ebony Life: E-mails From the Plantation,' that the magazine's problems are pervasive and deeply entrenched throughout the culture of Johnson Publishing Co.

The memoir presents an interesting insider's take on the internal machinations of Ebony and its leadership. She recently took time from her busy schedule to talk about her memoir:

BV on Books: What prompted you to write the book?
Zondra Hughes: Newsweek broke the story that Ebony was rumored to be up for sale. The bloggers and media watchdogs were right on point about the outdated content, but they didn't explain why.
Only those who were on the inside knew why and how things really went down. So part of me felt indicted because I was there when the "outdated" content was produced. I had to say something, not only for those who were powerless to change things, but also for those who are still there.

BV: Who is "The Man?"
ZH: Ha! The Man is an entity that oppressed the worker bees on the plantation. Much like an evil spirit, it traveled and controlled the actions and motives of SOME of those entrusted to manage the magazine.

BV: Is your story as an associate editor at Ebony emblematic of most experiences?
ZH: Well, an associate editor has not ascended the ranks in decades. I'm speaking of outsiders, those who worked hard but did not have the right DNA, skin tone, or grade of hair. You feel me?

BV: Were there systems put in place to ensure failure? If so, what were they?
ZH: Social hierarchy and colorism, to a degree.

BV: At the end of the book, you mentioned a new hire to replace "The Man.'' Were systemic changes made?
ZH: I don't believe so. Perhaps, it's worse. Not being as good as the person you're supervising is a beast. Lots of games are played to hide what one does not know.

BV: What are you doing now and how did the experience at Ebony help you?
ZH: I am the editor of N'Digo, a magapaper-a paper that reads like a magazine. I have grown professionally on many different levels because of Ebony and its worker bees. I also write books. I witnessed the passion Lerone Bennett Jr., Ebony's former longtime executive editor; put into his other life as a writer and historian. It resonated with me.

BV: What positive experiences did you take away from your employment at Ebony?
ZH: I am a new age feminist with a colorful sense of fashion and a sincere devotion to philanthropy. Thank you, John H. Johnson and Eunice Johnson.

Full disclosure: I am a former associate editor at Ebony magazine. My tenure overlapped with Hughes's and I'm a contributor to N'Digo.