Eric Johnson (news and sports reporter)
Encyclopedia
Eric Johnson is an American television news sports director, as well as news anchor.
and majored in broadcasting in the Edward R. Murrow
School of Communications at Washington State University
. He also played baseball at WSU as a pitcher (he says with very limited success).
in Boise, Idaho, serving as the station's weekend sports anchor. Two years later, he was promoted into the role of sports director at rival station KBCI-TV (now KBOI 2). From 1987 to 1989, he served in the same capacity at Spokane's KREM 2, then he moved to sister station KGW 8
in Portland, Oregon, where he remained until 1993.
Upon arriving at KOMO 4
in 1993, he initially started out as the station's weekend sports anchor, replacing longtime KOMO sportscaster Rick Meeder and fill-in sports anchor Bob Rondeau. In 1994, he created a popular segment titled "Eric's Little Heroes", which focuses on the athletic plight of Seattle-area children in Little League
games across the area, and is presented in an off-the-wall and humorous fashion. (In 2006, Eric's Little Heroes was discontinued, until strong viewer support brought the feature back in early 2008).
In September, 1995, longtime KOMO sports director Bruce King retired from broadcasting the eleven o'clock evening sportscasts, leading the way for Eric Johnson to assume the role of KOMO sports director. In July 1996, Bruce King retired from KOMO-TV after a career spanning more than 30 years, and in his retirement, he named Eric Johnson as the new sports director for all weeknight editions of KOMO News 4.
In his 15 years at KOMO
, Eric has been awarded more than 25 Regional Emmy Awards, and in 2007, he was given the highest prize in local television news, a National Edward R. Murrow Award for best feature story in the country. His career at KOMO has seen him cover nearly every major sports event in Seattle, and in some cases abroad. He produced an award-winning documentary about a group of American children who traveled to Cuba to play a series of baseball games against Cuban teams. And in 2005, he led coverage of the Seattle Seahawks trip to the Super Bowl. He can frequently be seen reporting live on location, whenever the Mariners, Sonics, or Seahawks are playing.
In the second half of 2007, Johnson began anchoring the news for the first time. He took over the reins of KOMO 4 News at 5 o'clock from longtime news anchor Dan Lewis
, when KOMO underwent a broadcast schedule change involving their evening newscast lineup. Lewis and longtime KOMO anchor Kathi Goertzen
remain at the helm of the 6PM and 11PM newscast editions, while Johnson now anchors the half-hour 5PM newscast with Kathi Goertzen. His colleague Dan Lewis' son Tim is currently holding the role as sports director at KREM 2, the role Johnson held from 1987-1989.
Early life
Eric was born to Nathan and Lurane Johnson and raised in Spokane. Eric attended East Valley High SchoolEast Valley High School (Spokane, Washington)
East Valley High School is Public High School located in Spokane Valley, Washington at the corner of Sullivan and Wellesley, East Valley is a large comprehensive high school providing educational opportunities to approximately 1,400 students in grades 9-12...
and majored in broadcasting in the Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow, KBE was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, and Alexander Kendrick...
School of Communications at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. He also played baseball at WSU as a pitcher (he says with very limited success).
Broadcasting career
Eric Johnson began his broadcasting career in 1984 at KTVB 7KTVB
KTVB, channel 7, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Boise, Idaho, it is owned by Belo Corporation. The station broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 7.-History:...
in Boise, Idaho, serving as the station's weekend sports anchor. Two years later, he was promoted into the role of sports director at rival station KBCI-TV (now KBOI 2). From 1987 to 1989, he served in the same capacity at Spokane's KREM 2, then he moved to sister station KGW 8
KGW
KGW is an NBC affiliate television station serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The station broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 8, from its transmitter in Portland. It also produces segments and serves as the Portland bureau for Northwest Cable News , which is also owned by...
in Portland, Oregon, where he remained until 1993.
Upon arriving at KOMO 4
KOMO-TV
KOMO-TV, virtual channel 4, is a television station in Seattle, Washington. It is an affiliate of ABC and broadcasts on digital channel 38. KOMO-TV is the flagship station of Fisher Communications, and its studios and offices are co-located with sister radio stations KOMO , KVI , and KPLZ-FM ...
in 1993, he initially started out as the station's weekend sports anchor, replacing longtime KOMO sportscaster Rick Meeder and fill-in sports anchor Bob Rondeau. In 1994, he created a popular segment titled "Eric's Little Heroes", which focuses on the athletic plight of Seattle-area children in Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
games across the area, and is presented in an off-the-wall and humorous fashion. (In 2006, Eric's Little Heroes was discontinued, until strong viewer support brought the feature back in early 2008).
In September, 1995, longtime KOMO sports director Bruce King retired from broadcasting the eleven o'clock evening sportscasts, leading the way for Eric Johnson to assume the role of KOMO sports director. In July 1996, Bruce King retired from KOMO-TV after a career spanning more than 30 years, and in his retirement, he named Eric Johnson as the new sports director for all weeknight editions of KOMO News 4.
In his 15 years at KOMO
KOMO-TV
KOMO-TV, virtual channel 4, is a television station in Seattle, Washington. It is an affiliate of ABC and broadcasts on digital channel 38. KOMO-TV is the flagship station of Fisher Communications, and its studios and offices are co-located with sister radio stations KOMO , KVI , and KPLZ-FM ...
, Eric has been awarded more than 25 Regional Emmy Awards, and in 2007, he was given the highest prize in local television news, a National Edward R. Murrow Award for best feature story in the country. His career at KOMO has seen him cover nearly every major sports event in Seattle, and in some cases abroad. He produced an award-winning documentary about a group of American children who traveled to Cuba to play a series of baseball games against Cuban teams. And in 2005, he led coverage of the Seattle Seahawks trip to the Super Bowl. He can frequently be seen reporting live on location, whenever the Mariners, Sonics, or Seahawks are playing.
In the second half of 2007, Johnson began anchoring the news for the first time. He took over the reins of KOMO 4 News at 5 o'clock from longtime news anchor Dan Lewis
Dan Lewis (newsreader)
Dan Lewis is a long-time news presenter and reporter for KOMO-TV, in Seattle, Washington.He came to KOMO-TV in 1987 after working at television station WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., replacing retiring news anchor Jim Harriott. Before that, he had worked at WISN-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, when KOMO underwent a broadcast schedule change involving their evening newscast lineup. Lewis and longtime KOMO anchor Kathi Goertzen
Kathi Goertzen
Kathi Goertzen is a longtime co-anchor of KOMO-TV along with Dan Lewis and also the 5PM edition with Eric Johnson. She joined KOMO in June 1980, after the eruption of Mount St...
remain at the helm of the 6PM and 11PM newscast editions, while Johnson now anchors the half-hour 5PM newscast with Kathi Goertzen. His colleague Dan Lewis' son Tim is currently holding the role as sports director at KREM 2, the role Johnson held from 1987-1989.