Tonisha Johnson is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor for Your Weekend on Spectrum News 1. When she’s not on the desk, she’s out in communities covering education and politics across the state. Whether it’s in the classroom or the statehouse, she delves into legislation and shares the stories of those impacted in rural, urban and suburban communities. She also shines a light on teachers, students, districts and legislators making their mark in education. 

Tonisha is a native of Springfield, Illinois. She earned a degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Hood Theological Seminary. Before joining Spectrum News 1, Johnson was a reporter for WTVI (PBS) in Charlotte, and WRCB-TV, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
 
Since joining the Spectrum News 1 team, Tonisha has produced and hosted virtual education town halls, in addition to the documentary Glass Walls: Black Experiences in Higher Education. The award-winning documentary addresses students and their experiences with systemic racism. One of Tonisha’s most impactful stories centered around a high school student who had been through foster care; the student found a number of supports and resources that helped her to thrive in high school, and eventually be admitted to college. After the story aired, Tonisha learned that a viewer had made the decision to contribute to the student’s college education. It’s these kinds of stories that keep Tonisha going. 

Currently, Tonisha oversees the Spectrum News Fellowship in Ohio, which aims to build the next generation of journalists. She also co-chairs the station’s Local Fairness Group, which works to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion within the newsroom and community, while making sure content for air reflects the many facets and voices of Ohio. 

When she’s not covering the news, Tonisha enjoys traveling abroad with her family, designing clothes, and mentoring youth and young adults. You can also find her connecting with others through local and international ministry. Overall, her greatest satisfaction comes from being able to inspire, educate and encourage people through teaching and the stories she tells. You can find her on Instagram @TonishaJohnsonOnTV, Twitter @TonishaJTv, and Facebook at Tonisha C Johnson.