Elias Johnson joined the team in July of 2022. He comes back to WHO13 where he started his career as a reporter in 2008.
Johnson is a nationally recognized journalist who came home to WHO13 after working for television stations in Phoenix, Arizona and Reno, Nevada.
His first reporting job was with KDSM FOX17 in Des Moines. He joined WHO13 in 2008 as part of the news agreement with KDSM and WHO13.
During his first stint with WHO13, Johnson was recognized for two regional Edward R Murrow Awards and a National Edward R Murrow award.
In 2009 he moved his growing family to the Valley of the Sun as a multimedia journalist with KPHO CBS 5. He went on to become a public information officer with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office where he launched the department’s video unit to aid in attention to community affairs and investigations. After working for nearly two years with the men and women of law enforcement he jumped back in the television news business as an evening anchor with KRNV News 4 in Reno, Nevada. During his time in northern Nevada, he was recognized with three Edward R. Murrow awards for his reporting.
Johnson was recruited to come back home, joining Local 5 as a morning anchor of Good Morning Iowa in 2016. During his six and a half years at WOI his work produced four regional Emmy awards, over twenty nominations and was awarded two more regional Edward R. Murrow awards.
He’s thrilled to back where it all started and credits his wife for supporting him all these years before coming back home. They live in the metro with their three children. In his spare time Johnson is an avid golfer and hunter. He serves on several charitable boards raising funs for veterans through the Puppy Jake Foundation and scholarships for graduates of his alma matter Manson NW Webster.
He a graduate of the Walker Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University where he was awarded the Hearst National Championship for reporting; he also wrestled for the Sun Devils at 141 lbs. and was a Maroon and Gold scholar athlete. Johnson spent time at Iowa Central Community College after graduating high school, where he was inducted into the Triton Hall of Fame as a distinguished alumni member in 2017.
