MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLER
ABOUT
Journalists tell stories. Here's mine.
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My name is Grant Johnson, and I am a multimedia journalist and graduate researcher currently pursuing a Master's in Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University's Cronkite School ahead of my August 2026 graduation.
My journey began in high school when I discovered my calling after joining the broadcast team. During one of my first assignments covering a house fire, I realized the power of storytelling to create change. That experience shaped my approach to journalism: I refuse to take the easy route when telling a story. This philosophy served me well as a 20-year-old intern in Texas, when my week-long investigation into an apartment fire revealed that a resident had intentionally started the blaze, contradicting the fire chief's initial assessment of electrical issues. Three families received justice because I questioned everything and refused to accept the surface-level explanation.
I've worked in top newsrooms across the country, including NBCUniversal, FOX, TEGNA and Gray Television, contributing to both live and long-form reporting. My work
has been recognized nationally by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Television Academy Foundation. I hold a degree in Television & Digital Media Production from Ithaca College and have continued to expand my education through graduate studies at ASU's Cronkite School, home to the only dedicated Master's in Investigative Journalism in the country. The program has empowered me to use public records, advanced research methods and emerging technologies to report deeper and more impactful stories.
Much of my research focuses on how Gen Z consumes news. I believe viewers shouldn't have to sacrifice compelling storytelling regardless of how they choose to consume it, whether through traditional linear TV or social media platforms. I frequently teach sessions at journalism conventions nationwide, focusing on how journalists can better engage younger audiences through storytelling that meets the moment.
Currently, I serve as a graduate assistant for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Southwest Health Reporting and Communications Initiative, which enhances health journalism focused on underserved communities in the American Southwest. As part of the initiative, I host the Pathways to Equity podcast, which explores health disparities in the Southwest and the people and initiatives working to challenge them through more equitable access to healthcare.
My goal remains unchanged from my early days: to tell stories that make a difference. My next-generation approach to digital storytelling and commitment to thorough investigation have shaped everything I've built so far, and this August, I bring that work to a local TV newsroom.
