Tom Johnson (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Wyatt Thomas Johnson is an American
journalist
and media executive, best known for serving as president of Cable News Network (CNN) during the 1990s and, before that, as publisher of the Los Angeles Times
newspaper
. In addition, Johnson is a long-time member of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation board of trustees and a former member of the Rockefeller Foundation board of trustees.
and graduated from Lanier High School. While in high school, he began working at the Macon Telegraph newspaper. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree
from the University of Georgia
's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
and a master's
from Harvard Business School
, both of which were largely financed by his employers at the Telegraph. President
Lyndon B. Johnson
(no relation) tapped Johnson as a White House Fellow, but he accepted only after being encouraged by the Telegraphs publisher and assured he had no further obligation to the paper.
. As "Thinking Big" by Robert Gottlieb and Irene Wolf noted in 1977, “when Lyndon Johnson returned to Texas in 1969, he brought Tom Johnson along to serve as executive assistant in charge of LBJ’s Texas Broadcasting Company.”
The same book also revealed that in 1970 the then-30-year-old Tom Johnson was elected executive vice-president of LBJ’s Texas Broadcasting Company and “he joined the board of directors of the City National Bank of Austin, headed up LBJ’s Austin station KTBC, and participated in the town’s business-dominated civic groups."
The Austin TV station which Tom Johnson headed in the 1970s was profitable because LBJ “had friends in high places among those who controlled the broadcast industry,” according to a 1978 book by another former LBJ aide, Bobby Baker
, titled "Wheeling And Dealing: Confessions of a Capitol Hill Operator". The same book also revealed that “it is no accident that Austin, TX, was for years the only city of its size with only one television station” and “LBJ demanded, and received, the opportunity to pick and choose programs for his monopoly station from among those offered by all three of the major networks.” "Wheeling And Dealing" also points out that “no other television station in America had such a unique and cozy arrangement” as the LBJ-owned KTBC station which Tom Johnson used to head for LBJ.
in 1975. From there, he moved on to the Los Angeles Times, where he served as president and later publisher during a thirteen-year stint.
asked him to serve as the third president of the news channel. Johnson succeeded outgoing CNN president, Burt Reinhardt
. Johnson's first year saw the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War
, an event that helped place CNN firmly in the public consciousness. He ran CNN until his retirement in 2001, presiding over both triumphant and controversial moments in the history of the network.
Johnson later publicly revealed a long battle with depression
that he was able to control with medication. Johnson had previously kept the condition private, though he told Turner when he was offered the CNN position.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and media executive, best known for serving as president of Cable News Network (CNN) during the 1990s and, before that, as publisher of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. In addition, Johnson is a long-time member of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation board of trustees and a former member of the Rockefeller Foundation board of trustees.
Biography
Johnson was born in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and graduated from Lanier High School. While in high school, he began working at the Macon Telegraph newspaper. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
The Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is a college within the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States...
and a master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, both of which were largely financed by his employers at the Telegraph. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
(no relation) tapped Johnson as a White House Fellow, but he accepted only after being encouraged by the Telegraphs publisher and assured he had no further obligation to the paper.
LBJ
He worked in various positions in the Johnson administration and continued to work for the former President after he retired to TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. As "Thinking Big" by Robert Gottlieb and Irene Wolf noted in 1977, “when Lyndon Johnson returned to Texas in 1969, he brought Tom Johnson along to serve as executive assistant in charge of LBJ’s Texas Broadcasting Company.”
The same book also revealed that in 1970 the then-30-year-old Tom Johnson was elected executive vice-president of LBJ’s Texas Broadcasting Company and “he joined the board of directors of the City National Bank of Austin, headed up LBJ’s Austin station KTBC, and participated in the town’s business-dominated civic groups."
The Austin TV station which Tom Johnson headed in the 1970s was profitable because LBJ “had friends in high places among those who controlled the broadcast industry,” according to a 1978 book by another former LBJ aide, Bobby Baker
Bobby Baker
Robert Gene Baker was a political adviser to Lyndon B. Johnson, and an organizer for the Democratic Party.-Life:Baker was the son of the Pickens postmaster and lived in a house on Hampton Avenue...
, titled "Wheeling And Dealing: Confessions of a Capitol Hill Operator". The same book also revealed that “it is no accident that Austin, TX, was for years the only city of its size with only one television station” and “LBJ demanded, and received, the opportunity to pick and choose programs for his monopoly station from among those offered by all three of the major networks.” "Wheeling And Dealing" also points out that “no other television station in America had such a unique and cozy arrangement” as the LBJ-owned KTBC station which Tom Johnson used to head for LBJ.
Los Angeles Times
After Lyndon Johnson's death, Tom Johnson again moved into journalism, eventually becoming publisher of the Dallas Times HeraldDallas Times Herald
The Dallas Times Herald, founded in 1888 by a merger of the Dallas Times and the Dallas Herald, was once one of two major daily newspapers serving the Dallas, Texas area. It won three Pulitzer Prizes, all for photography, and two George Polk Awards, for local and regional reporting...
in 1975. From there, he moved on to the Los Angeles Times, where he served as president and later publisher during a thirteen-year stint.
CNN
In 1990, Johnson moved from print to television, as CNN founder Ted TurnerTed Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
asked him to serve as the third president of the news channel. Johnson succeeded outgoing CNN president, Burt Reinhardt
Burt Reinhardt
Burton "Burt" Reinhardt was an American journalist and news executive, who served as executive Vice President of CNN from 1980 to 1982 and the second President of CNN from 1982 to 1990...
. Johnson's first year saw the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, an event that helped place CNN firmly in the public consciousness. He ran CNN until his retirement in 2001, presiding over both triumphant and controversial moments in the history of the network.
Johnson later publicly revealed a long battle with depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
that he was able to control with medication. Johnson had previously kept the condition private, though he told Turner when he was offered the CNN position.
See also
- Sigma Nu LEADership learning programSigma NuSigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...