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Jim Johnson

Roe & Cisco newsman Jim Johnson is a veteran of Chicago Broadcasting. During his decades as a reporter Johnson has covered murders, gangsters, politicians and prostitutes. As Jim puts it, "sometimes its hard to tell the difference."

Johnson's unique conversational style of doing the news has won the hearts of listeners... and won him many awards (including a prestigious Edward R. Murrow award.)

Part of Johnson's on air charm is his ability to converse with Roe Conn on a variety of subjects, including stories about growing up in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Jim claims to be the only newsman whose childhood pets include a skunk and a porcupine. (Despite Roe's attempts to limit them Johnson seems to have an endless supply of Wisconsin stories.)

Jim has a Bachelor's and Masters degree in communications from the University of Illinois.

Prior to joining Roe & Cisco, Jim was a television news anchor in Champaign Illinois. He also worked as a weekend TV reporter for ABC 7 in Chicago.

Johnson is married to his college sweetheart Denise (an occupational therapist.) They have a daughter Alexis who has followed her father in the business and is currently a TV reporter and weekend anchor in Portland, OR.

Asked to sum up his view of life Johnson once told a reporter, "I've been up... I've been down... Up is better."

(Also, Jim lists among his major achievements the invention of the "Canarble Wagon" and the "Jimism")

Jim supports the following charities:
WINGS (women in need growing stronger)
Feed The Dream

Here are some pictures from Jim's past and current life:

Jim enjoys his picnic table during another typical summer day in Wisconsin

"A newsman spends quality time with his new grandson!”

Jim and his dog Mulligan up at the lake (29 below zero on Christmas Day...notice, Mulligan's one eye is frozen shut!)

Here's a picture of Jim growing up in Wisconsin (Fish on left)

Jim enjoys a typical summer day at his cabin in Northern Wisconsin

Jim with a toy chainsaw, pretending to do real work up north at his cabin

Only in Wisconsin (Thanks to listener David)

Jim, with his sisters Elaine and Rosalie, in Northern Wisconsin

Something you'll see only in Wisconsin

Something else you'll only see in Wisconsin (Do these guys have no shame?)

Here's Jim with a bear his Daddy shot, in 1947

Jim at his cabin (Jim says there's nothing wrong with the cabin duct tape can't fix...)

Here's another picture of Jim with Denise and some friends from the Illinois Saint Andrew Society's 159th Anniversary Dinner Benefit, which Jim emceed in November of 2004

Jim in a skirt, standing next to his lovely wife Denise

Jim Johnson in the Suntimes

E-Mail Jim