Iola Johnson
Iola Vivian Johnson (born October 10, 1950)[1] was the first African-American news anchor for a Dallas television station.[2]
Johnson was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. One of her first professional positions was with NBC affiliate KVOA in Tucson, Arizona where she wrote for the 10 o'clock news.[3]
In 1973, she took a position with WFAA in Dallas,[3] and debuted as a weekend news anchor there in May of that year.[4] In 1975, she and Tracy Rowlett began a ten year run as co-anchors.[2] Together, their news program was the most successful in Dallas-Fort Worth television history.[3] Johnson remained at WFAA-TV for more than 12 years.
Johnson is the former host of "Positively Texas"[citation needed] (a weekly public affairs television show that aired on TXA 21 KTXA, CBS 11's sister station and former UPN affiliate).
In 1985, Johnson left her anchor position with WFAA-TV to start her own business.[3] (Her last night on WFAA-TV being March 2, 1985.[2]) After working for a short time in St. Louis, she returned to Dallas to work as a reporter for a morning show on KKDA in Dallas.[3]
In September 2000, Johnson chose to return to television news to help launch a new hour long newscast at 4pm on KTVT CBS 11 in Dallas-Fort Worth with longtime friend and former WFAA colleague Tracy Rowlett[citation needed]. After two years, Tracy and Iola left the 4pm newscast and were replaced by anchors Jody Dean and Maria Arita.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ "Iola Vivian Johnson" in Who's Who Among African Americans, 23rd ed. Gale, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
- ^ a b c Bark, Ed (August 28, 2008). "Iola Johnson: leaving for parts unknown". http://unclebarky.com. http://unclebarky.com/back_files/76fe72f510466f97011f1fddd9e298f3-10.html. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Iola Johnson Biography". http://www.thehistorymakers.com. http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=1270. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ "Dallas-Fort Worth TV newswoman Iola Johnson to be honored as trailblazer". http://www.dallasnews.com. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-wade_20met.ART.State.Edition1.468c40b.html. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
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