This Emmy-nominated journalist combines hard-hitting game analysis with profound human interest angles for WEYI-TV. With 85% of his coverage focusing on collegiate athletics, Johnson specializes in:
Recent Honors:
We trace DeShawn Johnson's journey from his early days covering Michigan State women's basketball for The State News to his current role as multimedia journalist at WEYI-TV. His career demonstrates three distinct phases:
"Sports journalism isn't just about final scores - it's about the dreams, struggles and human connections that happen between whistles." - DeShawn Johnson, 2024 Big Ten Media Day
Johnson's April 2025 playoff coverage demonstrated his ability to balance hard-hitting game analysis with poignant human interest angles. The 1,200-word piece wove together play-by-play breakdowns with profiles of three Flint natives returning to play in their hometown during the championship series. His use of augmented reality graphics to compare current and historical team statistics set new standards for regional sports broadcasting.
This March 2024 investigative piece revealed how private donations shape collegiate athletics. Johnson conducted 14 interviews over six months, tracing the impact of Secchia's gift on facility upgrades and scholarship opportunities. The article sparked campus debates about donor influence that led to new transparency policies from MSU's athletic department.
Johnson transformed a routine campus event into a meditation on baseball's cultural significance in Michigan. By contrasting the derby's lighthearted atmosphere with historical analysis of Detroit's baseball heritage, he created what the Michigan Press Association called "a masterclass in sports contextualization."
Johnson consistently prioritizes stories examining how sports programs affect local communities. His 2025 series on high school athletes receiving college scholarships demonstrates particular interest in accessibility initiatives. Pitches should include specific data on community outcomes.
With 23% of his bylines referencing historical context, successful pitches connect current events to Michigan's rich sports legacy. His award-winning piece on Flint's boxing gyms shows how to make historical relevance actionable for modern audiences.
Johnson's coverage of MSU's esports scholarship program reveals his interest in emerging athletic frontiers. Pitches about new training technologies or alternative revenue streams for athletes align with his demonstrated focus areas.
From his 2024 analysis of NIL deals to 2025's sports gambling series, Johnson maintains strong interest in financial aspects of athletics. Successful pitches include clear financial data visualization strategies.
With 38% of his articles featuring original video content and 12% incorporating AR elements, Johnson actively seeks stories with strong visual components. Pitches should outline available multimedia assets or propose innovative presentation formats.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Sports, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
