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Whit Johnson
Whit Johnson
Whit Johnson
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Stephen Whitney "Whit" Johnson[1] (born June 25, 1982) is an American journalist known as the co-anchor of the weekend editions of Good Morning America, the anchor of the Saturday edition of ABC World News Tonight, and the fill-in and substitute anchor of Good Morning America, and ABC World News Tonight.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Johnson was born and raised in San Francisco.[2] He graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. degree in Television and Radio Broadcasting.[3] Johnson credits his stepfather, TV and radio host Dean Edell, with having introduced him to the world of broadcasting.[4]

Career

[edit]

Johnson began his on-air career in 2005 with NBC affiliate KNDO/KNDU-TV in Yakima/Tri-Cities, Washington, as a reporter and evening weekend anchor. He next worked for Salt Lake City, Utah, NBC affiliate KSL-TV as a reporter and as an anchor on evening weekdays.[4]

Johnson joined CBS News as a Washington, D.C.–based network correspondent and fill-in anchor in 2009. While there, much of his coverage focused on the White House, on Capitol Hill and foreign policy issues.[5][6] He reported on the death of Osama bin Laden and interviewed then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the course of her tour of the Middle East in 2011.[3][4]

In 2012, Johnson joined KNBC in Los Angeles as an anchor and general-assignment reporter. In that role, he reported from Boston for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential run, covered the Asiana flight 214 crash landing at San Francisco International Airport, and reported on the Washington D.C. Navy Yard mass shootings. In June 2014, he joined Today in L.A., as co-anchor alongside Daniella Guzman.[3][4] He traveled to Sochi to cover the 2014 Winter Olympics and later to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics. In Rio, he co-hosted a special report on the Opening Ceremony that won a Los Angeles Emmy.[3][7]

ABC News announced Johnson had joined as a correspondent in March 2018.[8] In September of that same year, Johnson took over as a co-anchor of the weekend editions of Good Morning America.[9]

Johnson served as a lead correspondent for ABC News throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2020 election cycle he covered election week from Arizona as well as the Democratic primaries.[3] On February 1, 2021, ABC announced that Johnson would become Saturday anchor of ABC World News Tonight, replacing the departing Tom Llamas, but that he would also continue to co-anchor Good Morning America on the weekends.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

Johnson lives in the New York area with his wife (married on August 11, 2007), Andrea Fujii, an ABC News reporter, and their two daughters.[11]

In 2018, Johnson unwittingly found two of his father's brothers through a 23andMe DNA test.[12]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Whit Johnson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Whit Johnson is an American Emmy Award-winning journalist and television anchor, best known as the co-anchor of the weekend editions of Good Morning America and the anchor of the Saturday edition of ABC World News Tonight, both based in New York. Born on June 25, 1982, in San Francisco, California, Johnson grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in television and radio broadcasting. He began his career as a reporter and anchor at NBC affiliate stations in Yakima, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, before serving as a correspondent and fill-in anchor at CBS News in Washington, D.C. In 2013, he joined KNBC-TV in Los Angeles as a morning anchor for Today in L.A., where the program won a Golden Mike Award for Best Daytime News Broadcast in 2017. Johnson joined ABC News in 2017 as a correspondent and later took on his current anchoring roles. He has covered major events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and the 2020 killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Early life and education

Early life

Whit Johnson was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He grew up in San Francisco, where both of his parents were alumni of San Francisco State University. His parents divorced when he was a child, after which his mother, Sharon, remarried Dean Edell, a prominent physician, author, and broadcaster. The family maintained strong ties to the Bay Area during his upbringing. A DNA test taken in 2014 later revealed details about his father's adoption in 1950, expanding the family's understanding of their heritage, though this discovery occurred in adulthood.

Education

Whit Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Television and Radio Broadcasting from San Francisco State University in 2004. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Johnson pursued his undergraduate studies at the local institution, where he developed foundational skills in broadcast journalism that shaped his early career. In 2024, he returned to San Francisco State University as an alumnus speaker, engaging with students in the Journalism and Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts programs to discuss his professional journey.

Career

Early local reporting

Johnson began his broadcasting career in 2005 as a reporter and evening weekend anchor at NBC affiliate KNDO/KNDU-TV in Yakima and the Tri-Cities area of Washington state. In this role, he covered a range of local news stories, including breaking events and community issues, helping to build his foundational skills in on-air reporting and anchoring under the pressures of a smaller market. Seeking further opportunities, Johnson transitioned in 2007 to , an affiliate in [Salt Lake City](/page/Salt Lake City), , where he served as an evening weekday anchor and reporter. At , his reporting focused on local crime, public safety, and human interest stories, such as the family dynamics in a high-profile murder case, the organization of citizen patrol groups like the Guardian Angels to combat urban crime, and a incident resolved through a tip from a friend leading to an . He also highlighted positive community developments, including the launch of a website dedicated exclusively to uplifting news to counterbalance typical media negativity. During his time at these stations, Johnson honed his ability to deliver timely, impactful local journalism, covering events that resonated with regional audiences and establishing a reputation for reliable fieldwork in dynamic news environments. This early experience in Washington and markets laid the groundwork for his subsequent move to national reporting.

CBS News

Johnson joined CBS News in August 2009 as a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent for Newspath, the network's 24-hour television news service for affiliates. In this role, he reported on national news stories, with a particular emphasis on developments from the and , contributing to various broadcasts and platforms. His coverage often included political events, such as the implications of Herman Cain's withdrawal from the 2012 Republican presidential race, where he analyzed the benefits for other candidates like . During his tenure, Johnson provided on-the-ground reporting for high-profile stories across the U.S. and internationally. He covered the aftermath of the , focusing on rehabilitation efforts for the disabled led by survivors like Shelove Julmiste. In 2011, he reported on the emotional proceedings of the lacrosse murder trial involving George Huguely and Yeardley Love, including courtroom reactions to interrogation footage. Johnson also examined national security issues, such as the 2011 Navy SEAL raid on , highlighting the personal motivations of the commandos involved. His work extended to social and legal matters, including the 2010 controversy over a Tennessee mother's return of her adopted Russian son, which sparked outrage and led to a suspension of U.S.- adoptions. In 2012, Johnson reported on the expanding prostitution scandal ahead of President Obama's trip to , detailing investigations into additional agents. He also addressed online trends among youth, such as viral videos of teenage girl fights that amassed millions of views on . Additionally, Johnson contributed to discussions on major policy debates, joining analysts to preview the Supreme Court's 2012 review of the . Johnson occasionally served as a fill-in anchor for CBS News programs, broadening his on-air presence. His reporting was praised for its storytelling, as noted by KNBC news executive Todd Mokhtari upon his departure. He left CBS News in 2012 to join in as a morning and general assignment reporter, prioritizing family proximity after his wife's job in .

NBC in Los Angeles

In 2012, Whit Johnson joined , the in , as a co-anchor for the morning newscast Today in LA and as a general assignment reporter. His first day on air was September 10, 2012, where he partnered with co-anchor Lucy Noland to deliver daily coverage of , traffic, and weather for viewers. During his tenure at from 2012 to 2017, Johnson anchored live coverage of major breaking news events, including the 2013 LAX shooting, the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack, and the 2013 manhunt for former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner, during which he anchored for nine continuous hours. He also reported on national stories, such as the in , and provided on-the-ground coverage from following the bombing. Internationally, Johnson covered the in , , and the in Rio de Janeiro, , including co-hosting an Emmy-winning special report on the Rio Opening Ceremony. Johnson's investigative reporting at earned him a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award in 2013 for a multipart series exposing scams at auto repair shops in the region. Under his anchoring, Today in LA received the Golden Mike Award for Best Daytime News Broadcast in 2017 from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Johnson departed in December 2017 to join ABC News as a New York-based correspondent, marking the end of his five-year run at the station.

ABC News

In March 2018, Whit Johnson joined ABC News as a New York-based correspondent, transitioning from his role as a reporter at in . In this capacity, he contributed reports to major programs including , World News Tonight, 20/20, , and . Johnson quickly became a key figure in coverage, anchoring extended reports on significant events such as the October 2018 that claimed 11 lives, the arrest of the suspected Golden State Killer, and the 2018 midterm elections. He also field-anchored from during the volcano eruption and reported on the in . In early , following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General , Johnson anchored more than seven hours of continuous coverage from the anchor desk. During the , Johnson served as a lead correspondent, providing on-the-ground reporting and analysis across ABC News platforms. He covered the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries and anchored election night from during the presidential race. In 2018, Johnson became co-anchor of the weekend editions of . In 2021, he advanced to anchor the Saturday edition of . These roles, which he continues to hold as of 2025, involve guiding specials and delivering in-depth stories on national and international affairs.

Personal life

Family

Johnson has been married to Andrea Fujii, a news reporter and ABC News correspondent who formerly anchored at CBS2/KCAL9 in , since August 11, 2007. The couple met while working in and share a professional background in reporting. They have two daughters: Leah, born on May 15, 2012, and Summer, born on July 2, 2014. Johnson has publicly discussed the challenges of balancing his demanding career with life, including his desire to strengthen his bond with his daughters amid frequent travel. The resides in the New York area. Johnson was born and raised in the , where both of his parents are alumni of . His father, Steve, was adopted in 1950 in , . While the family knew of the adoption, details about Steve's biological family remained unknown until Johnson took a DNA test in 2014 at his mother's urging, which revealed connections to previously unknown relatives.

Ancestry and personal interests

Whit Johnson's ancestry on his father's side remained largely unknown until 2014, when he took a DNA test at the urging of his mother to explore his ethnicity. The results revealed Basque Spanish and Native American heritage linked to his paternal lineage, prompting an unexpected connection to his biological relatives. Johnson's father was adopted in 1950 in , , and had always honored his adoptive parents by not pursuing his biological roots. The DNA test identified a "possible first " match and led to contact with a man in who turned out to be his father's biological brother, born in 1956; physical resemblances in photos confirmed the relation. Further investigation uncovered a second brother, adopted and raised by their grandparents in , revealing that the brothers shared the same biological mother but had different fathers; a third brother and a biological sister were known to exist but had not been located at the time. Over the following years, additional siblings were discovered, including one brother and a possible sister on his biological grandmother's side, and two more brothers on his grandfather's side. In March 2025, following 23andMe's filing for bankruptcy, Johnson shared on Good Morning America the challenges of deciding whether to delete the family's DNA data, which had been instrumental in unlocking these family connections. Beyond ancestry, Johnson maintains an active lifestyle shaped by his athletic background. He played soccer during his college years at San Francisco State University but retired from the sport after two knee surgeries. His current hobbies include running, working out, traveling, cooking, and staying informed by reading news sources. Additionally, he is a dedicated fan of the San Francisco 49ers.

Awards and recognition

Emmy Awards

Whit Johnson has received two Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards for his work as a reporter and anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. In 2013, Johnson earned an Emmy for his multi-part investigative series on scams at auto repair shops. Johnson received a second Los Angeles Area Emmy for co-hosting KNBC's special report on the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Other honors

In addition to his Emmy Awards, Johnson received the Golden Mike Award in 2017 for his work as a morning anchor on KNBC-TV's "Today in LA," where the program was honored for Best Daytime News Broadcast by the Radio and Television News Association of .

References

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/ABCNews/whit-johnson-official-biography/story?id=53779441
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3857103/
  3. https://abcnews.go.com/US/dna-test-accidentally-unlocks-family-mystery-abc-news/story?id=56567642
  4. https://lca.sfsu.edu/archive/lcanews/2018/03/16/817729-alum-whit-johnson-joins-abc-news-correspondent.html
  5. https://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscostate/posts/emmy-winning-journalist-whit-johnson-ba-04-weekend-anchor-of-good-morning-americ/941117074716132/
  6. https://news.sfsu.edu/news/abc-news-anchor-alumnus-whit-johnson
  7. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/whit-johnson-joins-cbs-newspath/
  8. https://fashionsleeky.com/whit-johnson-salary/
  9. https://cnlawblog.co.uk/whit-johnson-salary/
  10. https://whitjohnson.com/
  11. https://www.ksl.com/article/1958078/family-explains-relationship-of-murder-victim-and-convict
  12. https://www.ksl.com/article/1829738/guardian-angels-organizing-in-salt-lake
  13. https://www.ksl.com/article/1556817/friend-turns-in-kidnapping-suspect
  14. https://www.ksl.com/article/3107345/web-site-devoted-entirely-to-happy-news
  15. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/cbs-correspondent-whit-johnson-joining-knbc/
  16. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-really-benefits-from-cains-departure/
  17. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/helping-the-disabled-in-post-earthquake-haiti/
  18. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/emotions-high-in-uva-lacrosse-murder-trial/
  19. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seal-bin-laden-mission-personal-for-commandos/
  20. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/return-of-orphan-to-russia-sparks-uproar/
  21. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/secret-service-scandal-spreads-to-second-hotel/
  22. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/girl-fights-go-online-cbs-news-reports-on-disturbing-8-million-youtube-hit-phenomenon/
  23. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hotsheet-live-whats-the-supreme-courts-next-move-in-the-health-care-case/
  24. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/local/nbc4-la-southern-california-news-kathy-vara-michael-brownlee-whit-johnson-stephanie-elam-anchors/1932732/
  25. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/whit-johnson-joins-abc-news-new-york/
  26. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/news/whit-goodbye-farewell-moments_los-angeles/29175/
  27. https://deadline.com/2018/03/abc-news-knbc-whit-johnson-ny-based-correspondent-1202335868/
  28. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/whit-johnson-and-linsey-davis-named-world-news-tonight-weekend-anchors/
  29. https://www.laparent.com/parenting/guzman-and-johnson/
  30. https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/840898/meet-gmas-whit-johnsons-stunning-news-anchor-wife/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5912142/bio/
  32. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/andrea-fujii-welcomes-daughter/
  33. https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/10535541/whit-johnson-wife-andrea-fujii/
  34. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14244259/good-morning-america-star-emotional-revelation-strained-relationship-daughters.html
  35. https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/us-news/good-morning-america-anchor-whit-johnson-reveals-family-secret-discovered-on-23andme-after-company-files-for-bankruptcy/
  36. https://goldengatexpress.org/108077/multimedia/sfsu-alum-and-abc-news-journalist-returns-to-his-alma-mater/
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