An Important Message About 1A

*this is a transcipt of the on-air message Joshua delivered at the end of the 1A broadcast on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
 

"Before we go, a quick announcement. We here at 1A look forward to covering the 2020 election with the depth, creativity, and engagement you expect from us. But that coverage will have a different host.

 

I am joining MSNBC as an anchor. My final live broadcast from this chair will be on the Friday before Christmas, December 20th. When I took this job three years ago I was following in the footsteps of a legend. Diane Rehm hosted the predecessor to 1A, “The Diane Rehm Show,” for 37 years. Many of her longtime listeners have said they're grateful that this program has built on that legacy. Diane and her fans made this possible. She ended her run on her terms, raised a glass to 1A – literally – and left us to build what we wanted to build.  Now, it's my turn to do the same.  

 

This show is not about me, it's not about a person – it's about a principle. It's about speaking freely and finding the courage to listen. That principle will remain, and whoever succeeds me will uphold it as fervently as I have tried to these last few years.  

 

So, I'm leaving 1A, and headed to MSNBC. Stay tuned for show details. 

 

For now, thank you so very much for welcoming me into your homes, your hearts, and your heads. 16 years in public media made me the journalist I am today. Hosting 1A has changed my life in so many ways. 

 

I am eternally grateful to our production team – to the more than 360 stations that choose to air this program coast-to-coast - to the brilliant support we have had from NPR since day one – and most importantly, to you. So until we meet again, I'm Joshua Johnson – thanks for listening. This is 1A."

WAMU created 1A almost three years ago, and we are incredibly proud of its fast growth and success.  Since its launch in January 2017, 1A has grown more than 115% in station carriage and now reaches more than 4 million listeners on 368 stations across the U.S. We attribute the growth to a variety of factors including a fresh and always-relevant take on the issues of the day, an unrelenting emphasis on civil conversation, a creative and ambitious team of producers, as well as a gifted and talented host. A search for a new host is underway.

We have no plans to change the 1A format — a daily, two-hour, live show of civil discourse with a curated and updated one-hour evening episode.

Todd Zwillich, a longtime Washington correspondent and periodic fill-in on the show, has agreed to serve as interim host starting in January as we complete the search. 

We have already begun a nationwide search for a new host. WAMU is seeking someone with journalistic chops, a curious mind, and deep empathy to help maintain the show's values and upward momentum. 

We expect to welcome a new host by early 2020. We are proud to have identified such profound talent in Joshua, and we hope to do it again. We have already begun a nationwide search for a new host who brings curiosity, journalistic chops, empathy, and a passion for civil conversation. We're excited about the field of candidates so far and this remains one of the most exciting opportunities in daily news.

We are pleased to have worked with Joshua for three years as the inaugural host of 1A. During that time, the show more than doubled station carriage and gained media attention from across the industry.  Also, during that time Joshua embarked on his first foray into television as a contributor on NBC and regularly appeared on Meet the Press. While we are sad to see him leave, we are excited that his role with 1Ahelped him realize his long-term aspirations for television. Joshua can speak more to the specifics of what this next step means to him.