Top of the Ticker: Tom Johnson, who led CNN in the 1990s, is out with a new book, Driven: A Life In Public Service And Journalism From LBJ To CNN, where he talks about his fight with depression. In the book, Johnson recounts how he told Ted Turner about his battle with depression while interviewing for the position of CNN president. Turner responded by saying that he, too, had battled with depression. The former CNN boss was candid on the subject in an NPR interview.
Earlier this week, Johnson, alongside former CNN anchor Judy Woodruff, who wrote the foreword, made an appearance on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown to promote the book. He also discussed CNN’s coverage of the 1991 Gulf War.
Meanwhile, the CNN en Español family is mourning the recent passing of entertainment journalist and PR professional Javier Merino. In an internal note shared with staffers obtained by TVNewser, Merino, 51, was described as someone “driven by a sincere and deep passion for the brand and our mission, as well as a razor-sharp intelligence beneath his cheerful disposition.” No cause of death was disclosed by the network, but it aired an on-air tribute this past Saturday night during the primetime newscast, Mirador Mundial.
Celebration coverage: C-SPAN has been named the official media partner of America250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence. C-SPAN’s coverage includes TV, web, social media, radio, and podcasts.
Revolving Door: NBC News has promoted Stephanie Gosk to senior national correspondent. Gosk will continue to cover major breaking news for the network, as well as work on more in-depth investigative pieces.
Meanwhile, Erin Doherty is moving from CNBC to Politico, where she will be a polling and campaigns reporter. At CNBC, she covered politics and general news. Prior to joining the business network, she was a politics reporter at Axios.
