ABC11 names new evening news anchor to replace Tisha Powell
.jpg "Lauren Johnson is ABC11’s new evening anchor.")
ABC11 has named Lauren Johnson as its new evening co-anchor, bringing a veteran journalist in the Philadelphia market to replace the retiring Tisha Powell.
Johnson comes to Raleigh from Fox 29 News, where she launched a weekend edition of “Good Day Philadelphia.” In her time at the station, she covered the Democratic National Convention, a fatal Amtrak derailment, the pope’s visit and both Bill Cosby trials.
She joins co-anchor Steve Daniels on the Eyewitness News team at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., along with the 10 p.m. newscast on CW22.
“I’m beyond thrilled to plant permanent roots here and find my new home,” Johnson said in an email Monday. “Just last week, I saw the headline about the area being ranked No. 2 on a “best places to live” list and I am not at all surprised. I am inspired by the work being done in the Tri-cities and thrilled to meet and know the visionaries bravely guiding the area into the future.”
A graduate of Furman University in South Carolina, Johnson worked as an intern with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
She followed that as feature reporter at Central Florida News 13 in Orlando, Florida, then as a health reporter at WHBQ-TV in Memphis, Tennessee, where she won a Tennessee Hospital Association Award and was nominated for several Emmys.
Returning to Orlando to launch the weekend edition of “Good Day Orlando,” she covered George Zimmerman’s trial for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.
“Lauren is a talented, compassionate and seasoned journalist who is a truth-seeker for all people,” said WTVD news director Bervette Carree. “Her ability to authentically connect with people is a unique and appreciated trait in our industry.”
Powell announced her retirement in April and left ABC11 at the end of June to spend more time with family.
Johnson joins the station at the end of July.
“As a true Southern girl,” she said, “it feels great to be back in the South. After spending the last 7 years in Philadelphia, it’s refreshing to be within reasonable driving distance of the ones I love most, especially my 90-year old Grandmother. I think the pandemic helped all of us prioritize what’s important, and for me, being near my family topped that list.”
This story was originally published July 19, 2021 at 12:23 PM.