DOMINIQUE JOHNSON

I am the daughter of an Air Force veteran and a VA nurse, an 8th generation South Carolinian, and an adoptee. All of these pieces come together to tell my story - and I'm honored to share the stories of others - learning and adapting every step of the way. 

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Right now I'm at Hearst Television in Washington, D.C. I've always been passionate about two things: serving small communities and politics. The Washington Bureau brings together both of those things, giving me a front row seat to history. I've had the opportunity to interview lawmakers in the halls and rotundas of Congress, sit in the courtroom as a former President was indicted, and watch the nation recover from a global pandemic. I've also gotten to grow my managerial skills, assisting in the daily management of a team of 14 people, allowing my supervisors space to focus on the bigger picture.

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Before the Bureau I was at The National Desk in Washington, D.C., producing a newscast that started with myself and three others, in an office, with one goal - bringing an opinion-free show to the airwaves. The team and I crafted the rundown from scratch, brainstormed and built branded segments, and developed graphics and shots in a studio never used for live coverage. I've been fortunate, not only to tackle this unique challenge, but also to learn discernment - choosing what’s newsworthy from an extremely wide range of topics.

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I come to D.C. via WBFF in Baltimore. Charm City is a complex city with a complex news cycle. Politics, crime, the justice system, and area schools all have major issues and are all intertwined. Baltimore is where I learned nuance.

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My early career was spent in Charleston. Working in a smaller market enabled me to follow stories - like the Emanuel 9 shooting and the Michael Slager trial - in-person and to their conclusion. I live and breathe the Lowcountry community - I consider it home. It's where I learned to produce news with compassion.

 

My first job was in New York City at Fox News. During my time on the overnight shift, we were our own supervisors, often in touch with bureaus around the world. It's where I learned accountability, and the importance of speed in a cut-throat 24-hour news cycle. 

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Before working in news, I was employed as a Bear Builder with the Build-A-Bear Workshop in Columbiana mall, and as an after-school and summer counselor with the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands. Both taught me patience.  

 

When I'm not consuming the latest political headlines, I play the piano, violin, and passable guitar. I take the occasional yoga class and enjoy the outdoors - I prefer hiking (when I'm not struggling to run long distances). I usually be found after hours at home gardening, or tending to my many phildendrons. 

 

I look forward to connecting with you!