about
David Johnson is an Assistant Professor at American University’s School of Communication, where he teaches courses in digital journalism, interactive storytelling and convergence media. His research interests include social networking and media, behavioral economics and serious applications of game technology. He is the editor-in-chief of The American Observer.
- David Johnson
Johnson is a longtime blogger on media and technology. He wrote for lostremote.com for nearly a decade covering a variety of topics. He now writes for the Poynter Institute’s e-media tidbits blog. He is frequently interviewed and often quoted about digital culture, social media, online journalism and other topics.
Johnson previously served as Chief Technology Officer of Scripps Media Center in Washington DC, home to Scripps Howard News Service, where he managed and directed technology and new media, launching the online community of news and current events ScrippsNews.com.
As Executive Producer and Online Editor of TCPalm.com, Johnson brought one of the first live-streaming television station Web sites online (www.wptv.com) and was part of the original launch team that won the NAA Digital Edge Award for Best News Site in the first year of operation, 1998. Johnson directed cross-property coverage of major news events including hurricanes and natural disasters, the Clinton investigation, space launches, and sporting events including Superbowls and spring training. In 1999, he launched one of the first ever interactive vodcasts with “Fighting Monday,” a ground-breaking live video and chat program.
Johnson sits on the New Media Committee and Broadcasting Task Force at the National Press Club. He is also the founder and principal of Sextant Media, a creative communication and consulting firm serving a range of clients from small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies and publisher of multiple niche and community sites, including the hyperlocal blog The Hill is Home.
Johnson has a Master’s degree in Anthropology and Nautical Archaeology, and has consulted in a number of documentary projects in that topic area. He is a board member of the Institute of Maritime History, and has participated in and directed underwater excavation projects in various countries around the world.
- On the Kingstown Harbour Shipwreck Project in St. Vincent
He also co-created, wrote and produced the original audio theater drama serial “Hayward Sanitarium,” which originally aired on NPR and is still broadcast in syndication and is available online.
This is his personal Web site. He can be reached at daj (at) davidandrewjohnson.com.