Joshua Johnson's Move To MSNBC

[alp227]

Source: WAMU Washington

After nearly three years with WAMU 88.5’s 1A, Joshua Johnson will be stepping down as the show’s host, effective Dec. 20, to join MSNBC as an anchor. Johnson served as the inaugural host of 1A and has been instrumental in its fast success as a national talk show, following in the footsteps of The Diane Rehm Show.

“In 2017, we proved that 1A could create a national conversation,” Johnson said. “1A proves that public media is well equipped to meet the nation’s need for news and information, including adapting to our changing times. We built something amazing, with a uniquely diverse and creative team, providing a space where anyone, anywhere can speak freely. I’m proud to have helped build that, and I look forward to seeing what 1A will become.”

Named after the First Amendment, 1A has pioneered a public radio talk-show format that successfully engages a range of diverse listeners and guests in a new national conversation. In its hometown of Washington, D.C., 1A airs live Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, and an updated evening version runs at 8 p.m. The show grew 115% in station carriage since its first year and can be heard on 368 stations across the U.S. by an audience of more than 4 million listeners on-air and on-demand.

Read more: https://wamu.org/around-wamu/joshua-johnsons-move-to-msnbc/

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I've been listening to Johnson since he was a news anchor at San Francisco's KQED. I hope he continues to do well at MSNBC even though I'm not the biggest fan of commercial TV news.

[pangaia]

1. Good I could never listen to the guy.

A nervous wreck, hyped up... Not really interested in his guests or subjects...


I hope they replace him with somebody with somebody with....some self-awareness..

YMMV

[OriginalGeek]

11. I enjoyed the topics and information he presented but

they way he talked just rubbed me the wrong way - the constant ending of sentences by going way up in pitch - I don't know if there's a word for it but it got on my nerves. It really distracted from what he was saying and I know it shouldn't have but I can't help it.

Other than that though I think he is a fine fellow and wish him success.

[NurseJackie]

13. Thank you. I feel the same way. The BEST episodes of "1A" were when he had a guest host.

I'm not too thrilled with WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi either... but he's better than Joshua Johnson.

[moreland01]

2. NOOOOOOOOO

Say it isn't so!! I love Joshua Johnson and I will miss him terribly on NPR. The only show he did that I didn't adore was when he spent a week talking about gaming, games and gamers. Just not my thing. Otherwise, I listen to his show faithfully daily and am always disappointed when he has a stand-in. And I don't watch MSNBC or any other TV.

[OriginalGeek]

12. lol, that was my favorite week

but then, it is my thing.

[Gymbo]

3. Who will he replace?

If MSNBC has an opening for an anchor who will he replace?

[LaurenOlimina]

4. This is sad to hear.

He has done very well with Diane Rehm's old slot. He will be missed. I really enjoyed hearing him hold conservatives feet to the fire, though I wished he had done it more often. He sometimes seemed to be overcompensating for the perception of bias absent any actual bias.

I like the fact he brought the entertainment profile up to date. I'm sure he brought in new listeners.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

7. what? "overcompensating for bias" - cant he just be good at what he does in his own right, without

it being about white people?

Either Im totally misunderstaning or its kind of an odd thing to say.

[LaurenOlimina]

10. You misunderstand.

I'm referring to his need to give voice to conservatives and even make their arguments for them in an effort to combat the perceived liberal bias of NPR. He sometimes took that to extremes, making room for outlandish and conspiratorial conservative thinking. I assume he was making a forceful argument in an attempt to balance the discussions, but sometimes, there really aren't two sides.

[mcar]

5. I liked him on 1A

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

6. Oh noooo!!!! he really MADE that show - cant imagine anyone else doing it. NEWS ANCHOR -

does that mean he sits and reads the news interspersed with yakking with his co-anchors? If so it would be a waste of his skills in interviewing and facilitating more indepth, meaningful conversations.

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Right now MSNBC has 3 hours of

Ali Velshi and Stephanie Ruhle, together and seperately. There's room for someone new even if no one else leaves or is promoted to NBC News.

[FakeNoose]

14. Good point - also Morning Joe could be cut by one hour

[ConstanceCee]

9. Too Bad

I really liked 1A and learned a lot. I would try to time my walks so I could listen, especially on Fridays. I'll miss him.