Dr. Jason Johnson is a professor, political analyst and public speaker. Fresh, unflappable, objective, he is known for his ability to break down stories with wit and candor. Dr. Jason Johnson is an up and coming voice in political and social commentary. Johnson is the author the book Political Consultants and Campaigns: One Day to Sell, which has been featured in Campaigns and Elections magazine and on National Public Radio. He is a tenured professor in the School of Global Journalism & Communication at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Johnson has an extensive public speaking and media background ranging from pop culture to politics.
Dr. Johnson currently serves as Politics Editor for The Root, the premier news, opinion and culture site for African-American influencers. The Root provides smart, timely coverage of breaking news, thought-provoking commentary and gives voice to a changing, more diverse America.
Dr. Johnson has been active in politics for many years, making him a valuable guest or panelist in many venues. He has worked for both Republicans and Democrats as a campaign manager and assistant state director in a series of legislative campaigns in South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. Internationally, Johnson worked on the 2001 London mayoral race, and in 2007 he was an honored guest of the Independent Electoral Commission in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been an international elections observer in Mexico, covering the hotly contested 2006 and 2012 presidential elections as well as the 2009 midterm legislative elections during the turbulent drug wars. In early 2012, Dr. Johnson participated in a two-week speaking tour throughout Germany on Internet Strategy in Presidential Campaigns sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Professor Jason Johnson is a frequently quoted guest and political commentator: in print, television, radio and online. Dr. Johnson has been quoted as an expert on politics by The Hill, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, The Washington Times, The Christian Science Monitor the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan’s largest circulation newspaper), O Globo in Brazil, and the Edinburgh Scotsman, as well as Black Enterprise and Essence magazine. He previously served as Politics Editor for The Source Magazine, Chief Political Correspondent for Politic365 and wrote a weekly column for the Chicago Defender, the New Pittsburgh Courier and the Real Times Media Syndicate. His work has appeared on NBC and NBC BLK, as well as the Huffington Post, CNN, BET.com, and Al Jazeera.
Johnson is a frequent television commentator locally, nationally and internationally. He is a regular commentator on Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera America, CNN, HLN, MSNBC, Fox Business News, Huffington Post Live, TV One and has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel and Politics Nation with the Reverend Al Shaprton on MSNBC. Internationally he’s made multiple appearances on BBC, CBC in Canada and Russia Today. Professor Johnson has been a featured guest on radio stations from coast to coast, including WVON in Chicago and CKNY in Vancouver, Canada, Minnesota Public Radio, Stand-Up with Pete Dominic as well as multiple stints on National Public Radio affiliates WCPN andWHYY, and national programs such as NPR’s Morning Edition, and Talk of the Nation.
Dr. Johnson has spoken to and moderated for, groups both large and small, from intimate guest classroom lectures at Northwestern University, to the Northeast Ohio Small Business Association annual dinner. He is noted for his ability to bring objectivity, humor and substance to his keynotes which makes him accessible to audiences on both sides of the political aisle. Groups as diverse as the League of Women Voters, County Republican Associations, The Congressional Black Caucus Boot Camp, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Northwestern University and international audiences on three continents have all found him to be engaging, accessible and informative.
Professor Johnson is a graduate of the University of Virginia and received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.