This morning KQED Executive Editor of News Holly Kernan sent the following email to staff wishing morning newscaster Joshua Johnson well as he steps down from the anchor desk to pursue other interests, including his new national series Truth Be Told. Here's what Kernan had to say:
For the last five years, Joshua Johnson has been the voice of KQED news in the mornings. He’s helped us understand what’s happening in our Bay Area community of 7+ million and helped us feel a little closer to each other. He’s guided us through increasingly crowded freeways and BART cars and helped us navigate ballooning rents, technological breakthroughs and Warriors wins. For me, his is a steady and comforting voice of reason, helping me sort through a sea of information.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into when I joined KQED in 2010,” says Johnson, “but I’m glad I took the leap. Serving as your morning newscaster for the last 5 1/2 years has been an adventure, a challenge, an education and a blessing. (It’s also reinforced the value of a good night’s sleep!) Now it’s time to take my next adventurous leap: into producing Truth Be Told, into starting my own business, doing more teaching, staying open to new possibilities and just enjoying the ride. I hope these adventures keep me in California: a place I have come to adore. To everyone at KQED, especially our listeners, thank you for your time and your trust. You have changed my life, and I am deeply grateful.”
Today Joshua is stepping away from the morning anchor chair and moving to a new role, one for which he doesn’t need to wake up at 3:30 a.m. every day. I, like many others, will miss hearing him each morning.
In April, Joshua will be hosting KQED’s special series examining race and identity, called Truth Be Told. You can hear it Mondays at 11 a.m. (in April) and find out more:
http://www2.pri.org/infosite/networknews/truthbetold.cfm
I know you will join me in wishing Josh well in all his future endeavors,
Holly