John Johnson is an American television anchorman, senior correspondent, documentary filmmaker and artist. He was a reporter on New York City television news for many years.[1]
Johnson studied art at the City College of New York, planning a career as an art educator. He then became an associate professor of fine art at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. [2]
Television journalism career
Johnson joined ABC News in 1968, ultimately becoming the first African American documentary producer, director and writer at a broadcast network. He won distinction for his documentaries Welfare Game and Strangers in Their Own Land: The Puerto Ricans. He was one of the first black filmmakers in the prestigious Directors Guild of America. Johnson then became a network correspondent and covered such stories as the Attica Prison riot that led to the deaths of 33 prisoners and 10 corrections officers. Johnson was inside the prison when guards and state troopers shot to death 29 prisoners and nine hostages. A tenth hostage later died.[3] State officials falsely claimed that the prisoners had cut the throats of the hostages, and many news outlets repeated the erroneous accounts. Johnson declined to do so because he had seen no such thing. Interviewed decades later, he said, "I didn’t see that. All I saw were troopers, police and Guardsmen going in with guns and firing in a cloud of smoke."[4]
In 1972, Johnson began a long run at WABC. Johnson was among the pioneers of the Eyewitness News format at WABC after it first came to New York in 1968. Decades later, the New York Times quoted Johnson's description of the multiculturalism of those early years: "We really did something different, we had a personality, and a news team that was a microcosm of America . . . We were black, white, Jewish, Latino. That’s why it became so beloved."[5]
In the late 1980s, he served as a rotating anchor of the 6 p.m. newscast in the aftermath of Roger Grimsby's firing with Kaity Tong and Bill Beutel. Johnson, who had also anchored the station's weekend newscasts and served as a reporter prior to this, eventually returned to reporting as senior correspondent after WABC made the decision to have Beutel anchor the 6 p.m. newscast by himself. During his years as senior correspondent, Johnson covered the release of Nelson Mandela from a South African prison and his presidential election. He reported from the first Gulf War, the Bosnian War and was one of the first reporters landing with American troops during the Unified Task Force intervention in Somalia. One of Johnson's last assignments at WABC was his reporting at the O. J. Simpson murder case in 1994-95.
While the trial was still going on, Johnson left WABC in March 1995 and became co-anchor of WCBS' 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts in June of that same year.[6] Johnson remained at the station until October 1996 when, along with several other notable personalities, he was fired. The timing of the firings was peculiar as Johnson and co-anchor Michele Marsh had offered a preview of the upcoming 11pm newscast at the end of the 6 pm news, with the firings occurring in the interim four and a half hours.[7]
Johnson was not out of work for long, as he and his WCBS co-anchor Michele Marsh were hired by WNBC to anchor the station's new noon newscast.[7] After a year, however, Johnson left WNBC due to care for his father who was dying of cancer,[2] and never returned to TV.
During his 30-year television news career, Johnson won nine Emmys and numerous other awards as a reporter, producer, writer and director.[8]
Autobiography
Johnson was to resurface again with the publication of his autobiography Only Son: A Memoir (Warner Books) in 2002. His memoir achieved success in China, where it was published in a Chinese language edition. In the book, Johnson describes his childhood in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant. According to a review in Publishers Weekly, the book describes an "intense love-hate dynamic between his abusive father, 'Black Jack,' and his alcoholic mother, Irene—in a narrative frightening in its emotional intensity." The review concluded that the book is "an impressive portrait of tenacity, fury and ambition, and reconciliation within an inescapable family frame."[9]
John Johnson with one of his paintings
Painter
A former associate professor of fine arts and Chairman of the Arts Department at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a guest lecturer at other universities before his broadcast career, Johnson then resumed his painting career.[2] His paintings, which have been shown in Europe and the United States, have been featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Walter Wickiser Gallery in Manhattan's art centers: SoHo and Chelsea.
Johnson has portrayed himself in such films as CopLand and 54. He was also featured in the award-winning documentary Eyes on the Prize and a 2021 documentary, Attica.[4]
References
^Gay, Verne (November 6, 2019). "What ever happened to: John Johnson, longtime NYC news reporters". Newsday. Melville, New York. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^ abcSalamone, Gina (May 10, 2012). "Ex-newsman John Johnson's art portrays his life – as well as Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Rapold, Nicolas (November 1, 2021). "Talking About 'Attica,' the Newest Documentary on the Prison Uprising: Fifty years after the fact, the filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry reflect on the bloody standoff and what it accomplished". New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^ abWemple, Erik (September 30, 2021). "Journalists bungled coverage of the Attica uprising. 50 years later, the consequences remain". Washington Post. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Buckley, Cara (November 9, 2008). "Toasting 40 Years of Breaking News and Happy Talk". New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Mifflin, Lawrie (August 17, 1997). "Vying for New York Stories, For Beguiling Announcers And, Yes, for People's Trust". New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^ abHuff, Richard (1996-10-03). . Nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
^"THE EMMY NOMINATIONS; Complete List of Nominees", Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2002, retrieved 2011-02-02
^"ONLY SON: A Memoir: John Johnson, Author, Jeff Coplon, With with Jeff Coplon. Warner $23.95 (256p) ISBN 978-0-446-52552-7". Publishers Weekly. May 13, 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
"WNBC Anchor Quits to Nurse Dying Dad" nydailynews.com 8/17/97.
"Axed Newscasters Anchored by Family. Marsh and Johnson Gather Strength for New Jobs at Ch. 4" nydailynews.com 10/22/96.
"Anchor Away: John Johnson Jumping from Ch. 7. to Ch. 2" nydailynews.com 3/17/95.
"Former Journalist John Johnson's Art Collection, 'In the Spectrum', Opens in N.Y.C." Huffington Post 5/19/14.
"Ex-newsman John Johnson's art portrays his life - as well as Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga," New York Daily News 5/10/12.
Allan Wolper talks with veteran New York newsman John Johnson, WBGO.org radio interview, 10/2/12.
"Up Close with Diana Williams" interview with John Johnson, WABC-TV Ch. 7, 5/11/14.
"Emmy Award Winner John Johnson, ’61, ’63MA, Gifts Papers to CCNY," City College of NY press release, 3/16/15.
External links
How a Former News Anchor and Current Painter Spends His Sundays: John Johnson, a trailblazing Black journalist, lives in the woods now, where he has an art studio and a cozy den that he calls “the nest.”, New York Times, Straus, Alex, February 19, 2021
January 06, 2023
john, johnson, reporter, john, johnson, american, television, anchorman, senior, correspondent, documentary, filmmaker, artist, reporter, york, city, television, news, many, years, john, johnsonjohnson, 1995bornnew, york, city, usanationalityamericaneducationb. John Johnson is an American television anchorman senior correspondent documentary filmmaker and artist He was a reporter on New York City television news for many years 1 John JohnsonJohnson in 1995BornNew York City USANationalityAmericanEducationB A City College of New YorkM A City College of New YorkHonorary doctorate St Thomas Aquinas CollegeAlma materCity College of New YorkOccupation s Documentary filmmaker television correspondent anchorman Artist canvas painting authorSpouse s E Jean Carroll former Ann Yih Johnson Contents 1 Education and early career 2 Television journalism career 3 Autobiography 4 Painter 5 References 5 1 Citations 6 External linksEducation and early career EditJohnson studied art at the City College of New York planning a career as an art educator He then became an associate professor of fine art at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania 2 Television journalism career EditJohnson joined ABC News in 1968 ultimately becoming the first African American documentary producer director and writer at a broadcast network He won distinction for his documentaries Welfare Game and Strangers in Their Own Land The Puerto Ricans He was one of the first black filmmakers in the prestigious Directors Guild of America Johnson then became a network correspondent and covered such stories as the Attica Prison riot that led to the deaths of 33 prisoners and 10 corrections officers Johnson was inside the prison when guards and state troopers shot to death 29 prisoners and nine hostages A tenth hostage later died 3 State officials falsely claimed that the prisoners had cut the throats of the hostages and many news outlets repeated the erroneous accounts Johnson declined to do so because he had seen no such thing Interviewed decades later he said I didn t see that All I saw were troopers police and Guardsmen going in with guns and firing in a cloud of smoke 4 In 1972 Johnson began a long run at WABC Johnson was among the pioneers of the Eyewitness News format at WABC after it first came to New York in 1968 Decades later the New York Times quoted Johnson s description of the multiculturalism of those early years We really did something different we had a personality and a news team that was a microcosm of America We were black white Jewish Latino That s why it became so beloved 5 In the late 1980s he served as a rotating anchor of the 6 p m newscast in the aftermath of Roger Grimsby s firing with Kaity Tong and Bill Beutel Johnson who had also anchored the station s weekend newscasts and served as a reporter prior to this eventually returned to reporting as senior correspondent after WABC made the decision to have Beutel anchor the 6 p m newscast by himself During his years as senior correspondent Johnson covered the release of Nelson Mandela from a South African prison and his presidential election He reported from the first Gulf War the Bosnian War and was one of the first reporters landing with American troops during the Unified Task Force intervention in Somalia One of Johnson s last assignments at WABC was his reporting at the O J Simpson murder case in 1994 95 While the trial was still going on Johnson left WABC in March 1995 and became co anchor of WCBS 5 p m and 11 p m newscasts in June of that same year 6 Johnson remained at the station until October 1996 when along with several other notable personalities he was fired The timing of the firings was peculiar as Johnson and co anchor Michele Marsh had offered a preview of the upcoming 11pm newscast at the end of the 6 pm news with the firings occurring in the interim four and a half hours 7 Johnson was not out of work for long as he and his WCBS co anchor Michele Marsh were hired by WNBC to anchor the station s new noon newscast 7 After a year however Johnson left WNBC due to care for his father who was dying of cancer 2 and never returned to TV During his 30 year television news career Johnson won nine Emmys and numerous other awards as a reporter producer writer and director 8 Autobiography EditJohnson was to resurface again with the publication of his autobiography Only Son A Memoir Warner Books in 2002 His memoir achieved success in China where it was published in a Chinese language edition In the book Johnson describes his childhood in Harlem and Bedford Stuyvesant According to a review in Publishers Weekly the book describes an intense love hate dynamic between his abusive father Black Jack and his alcoholic mother Irene in a narrative frightening in its emotional intensity The review concluded that the book is an impressive portrait of tenacity fury and ambition and reconciliation within an inescapable family frame 9 John Johnson with one of his paintingsPainter EditA former associate professor of fine arts and Chairman of the Arts Department at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a guest lecturer at other universities before his broadcast career Johnson then resumed his painting career 2 His paintings which have been shown in Europe and the United States have been featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Walter Wickiser Gallery in Manhattan s art centers SoHo and Chelsea Johnson has portrayed himself in such films as CopLand and 54 He was also featured in the award winning documentary Eyes on the Prize and a 2021 documentary Attica 4 References Edit Gay Verne November 6 2019 What ever happened to John Johnson longtime NYC news reporters Newsday Melville New York Retrieved January 26 2021 a b c Salamone Gina May 10 2012 Ex newsman John Johnson s art portrays his life as well as Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga New York Daily News Retrieved January 26 2021 Rapold Nicolas November 1 2021 Talking About Attica the Newest Documentary on the Prison Uprising Fifty years after the fact the filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Traci A Curry reflect on the bloody standoff and what it accomplished New York Times Retrieved November 6 2021 a b Wemple Erik September 30 2021 Journalists bungled coverage of the Attica uprising 50 years later the consequences remain Washington Post Retrieved November 6 2021 Buckley Cara November 9 2008 Toasting 40 Years of Breaking News and Happy Talk New York Times Retrieved January 26 2021 Mifflin Lawrie August 17 1997 Vying for New York Stories For Beguiling Announcers And Yes for People s Trust New York Times Retrieved January 26 2021 a b Huff Richard 1996 10 03 Wcbs Sign Off Network Cancels News Team Bigs Nydailynews com Archived from the original on 2011 07 01 Retrieved 2011 02 02 THE EMMY NOMINATIONS Complete List of Nominees Los Angeles Times July 19 2002 retrieved 2011 02 02 ONLY SON A Memoir John Johnson Author Jeff Coplon With with Jeff Coplon Warner 23 95 256p ISBN 978 0 446 52552 7 Publishers Weekly May 13 2002 Retrieved January 26 2021 Citations Edit Johnson John Coplon Jeff 2002 Only Son Warner Books ISBN 978 0 446 52552 7 WNBC Anchor Quits to Nurse Dying Dad nydailynews com 8 17 97 Axed Newscasters Anchored by Family Marsh and Johnson Gather Strength for New Jobs at Ch 4 nydailynews com 10 22 96 Anchor Away John Johnson Jumping from Ch 7 to Ch 2 nydailynews com 3 17 95 Former Journalist John Johnson s Art Collection In the Spectrum Opens in N Y C Huffington Post 5 19 14 Ex newsman John Johnson s art portrays his life as well as Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga New York Daily News 5 10 12 Allan Wolper talks with veteran New York newsman John Johnson WBGO org radio interview 10 2 12 Up Close with Diana Williams interview with John Johnson WABC TV Ch 7 5 11 14 Emmy Award Winner John Johnson 61 63MA Gifts Papers to CCNY City College of NY press release 3 16 15 External links EditHow a Former News Anchor and Current Painter Spends His Sundays John Johnson a trailblazing Black journalist lives in the woods now where he has an art studio and a cozy den that he calls the nest New York Times Straus Alex February 19 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Johnson reporter amp oldid 1119284973, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
