Joshua Johnson (journalist) facts for kids

Joshua Johnson (born March 22, 1980) is an American journalist. He is known for hosting radio and TV shows where he talks about important news and current events. He used to host a popular radio show called 1A on NPR. Later, he joined MSNBC and NBC News Now to host TV programs. In 2024, he also started appearing in videos for The Onion, which is a news satire group.

Early Life and Inspiration

Joshua Johnson grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the only son of a public school teacher and a Vietnam veteran. From a young age, Joshua was very interested in journalism. He was inspired by famous African American journalists like Ed Bradley, Bernard Shaw, and Dwight Lauderdale. These journalists showed him how important it was to share news and stories with the public.

A Career in Journalism

Joshua Johnson studied at the University of Miami. After graduating, he started his career in public radio. From 2004 to 2010, he worked on a special project with WLRN radio and the Miami Herald newspaper.

Moving to San Francisco

In 2010, Johnson moved to San Francisco. There, he worked for KQED, which is a radio station connected to NPR. He was the morning newscaster until 2016. In 2016, he hosted a radio series called Truth Be Told. This show was about issues of race in America. Four episodes of Truth Be Told were broadcast across the country. He also sometimes hosted KQED's show Forum. Joshua also taught classes about making podcasts at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

Hosting National Shows

In September 2016, Joshua Johnson was a guest host for The Diane Rehm Show for two days. Soon after, the show's host, Diane Rehm, announced that Joshua would take over her time slot.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson hosted 1A. This show was distributed by NPR and heard by many people across the United States. In late 2019, he shared that he would be leaving 1A to become an anchor for MSNBC in 2020.

In November 2022, Johnson left his show Now Tonight on NBC News Now. Since 2024, he has appeared on the Onion News Network as a character named Dwight Richmond.

Personal Life and Affiliations

Joshua Johnson prefers not to share his own personal opinions on political matters. He has mentioned that some people have called him conservative, while others have called him liberal.

He is a member of two important professional groups for journalists:

• The National Association of Black Journalists
• The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

These groups help support journalists and promote diversity in the news industry.