Alexis Johnson, KLN ‘17, has started a new position with Vice News after her former employer the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette narrowed the scope of her coverage due to one of her social media posts. Johnson, who completed the graduate program in media studies and production at Klein College of Media and Communication, announced her role in October. She was recruited by Klein alumna Marsha Cooke, KLN ‘87, senior vice president of global news and special projects at Vice Media.
Over the summer, Johnson made national headlines by speaking out against the Post-Gazette for barring her from covering anti-police brutality protests. She posted a tweet that compared the property damage from the protests to the destruction caused by attendees of a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate in Pittsburgh, which prompted the Post-Gazette to limit her assignments related to the protests. Johnson brought a federal lawsuit against the newspaper alleging illegal retaliation and racial discrimination, which may bring about new legal precedent for media companies regarding racial discrimination. As a result of the backlash against the Post-Gazette, the management leaders were reassigned to positions outside of the local newsroom. Meanwhile, Johnson was on the lookout for opportunities elsewhere.
Speaking in 2020, Johnson said of the situation, “I’m glad that I was able to make some type of impact this year and I’m looking forward to next year and hoping that it’s even better.”
Johnson found a fit at Vice News when she was approached by Cooke, who admired Johnson’s tenacity from afar. Coincidentally, Johnson and Cooke had previously met when Johnson was an escort for Cooke, who was the keynote speaker at one of Klein’s commencement ceremonies. The two became reacquainted after Johnson reminded Cooke of the engagement.
Cooke said that after learning more about Johnson she “thought almost instantly” of Johnson as a great fit for the news program. After speaking with her to pick her brain about potential stories, Cooke is excited to see how Johnson progresses in her new role and is proud to give a fellow Klein alumna — who she believes embodies open-mindedness and empathy, some of the primary characteristics of the journalists at Vice News — an opportunity to showcase her talents.
“To have the ability to have a seat at the table, be in the room where it matters...and say that it’s really important that we discover and give opportunity to the Alexis Johnsons of the world, is why I’m in the business,” Cooke said.
Johnson, who was an anchor for Temple University Television’s Temple Update and has since held several media positions including as a multimedia journalist for WVVA in West Virginia, is now a broadcast news correspondent for Vice News Tonight. Although her work is currently remote because of the ongoing pandemic, her role is based in Washington, D.C. Her first night on-air was Election Night 2020, a jam-packed day that threw her directly into the national political action. Johnson said that she looks forward to seeing where 2021 takes the country as it transitions its political power.
“I’ve been doing local since the start of my career so just trying to find stories that matter to everybody or matter to a larger audience...I guess I’m just looking forward to 2021 and seeing how the lay of the land is post-election,” she said.