Mal Johnson facts for kids

Mal Johnson (born July 4, 1924 – died November 7, 2007) was an important American journalist. She was also a strong civil rights activist. Mal Johnson made history as the first Black woman to report news from the White House. This means she covered stories directly from the U.S. President's home.

Mal Johnson's Early Life

Mal Johnson was born as Malvyn Hooser on July 4, 1924. Her birthplace was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She had four siblings: Alice, Artie, Harvey, and Norma. Their mother, Johnnie Reeves Taft, raised them mostly on her own. Malvyn's father left the family when she was young. Later, her mother remarried.

During World War II, Malvyn worked as a riveter. This job helped her pay for her studies at Temple University. After college, she became a schoolteacher. She married Frank Johnson, who was an officer in the Air Force.

A Trailblazing Career in Journalism

After her husband passed away in 1965, Mal Johnson began a new career. She worked at The Philadelphia Inquirer as an editor's assistant. She also worked for a non-profit group called North City Congress. Mal Johnson helped lead the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. The NAACP is a well-known organization that works for equal rights for Black people.

In 1964, she joined WKBS-TV and quickly became a news anchor. She was also on the board of American Women in Radio and Television. There, she met J. Leonard Reinsch. He offered her a job in Washington D.C. at Cox Communications. She became their first female reporter.

Later, Mal Johnson became the first Black female White House Correspondent. This was a very important role. In 1972, she traveled with President Richard Nixon on his historic trip to China. In 1975, she helped start the National Association of Black Journalists. This group supports Black journalists. She served as the treasurer in the early years of the organization.

After leaving Cox, Mal Johnson started her own company, Media Linx Productions. For her amazing work in journalism, she was one of the first people to be honored. She was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.

Awards and Recognition

Mal Johnson received several awards for her contributions.

• She received the Foremother Award from the National Center for Health Research in 2006.