About the Artist

Dr. DeWayne B. (Doc) Johnson, the artist, is a retired professor of journalism at California State University, Northridge (formerly San Fernando Valley State College), where he was on the faculty from 1961 to 1984.

... the journalist:
"Doc" Johnson also tentatively retired as a part-time copy editor at the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 1, 1985. He stayed "retired" about three months. He had been a member of The Times staff since 1961. At The Times he worked on a number of news desks, primarily metropolitan, national and foreign. He also worked in the business section, suburban sections, the editorial pages, as photo editor, makeup editor and in other capacities. He was among those "terminated" in a massive retrenching at The Times in August, 1995. While at the Times he was twice honored as a member of the editorial team that won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize -- both times involving stories dealing with "urban unrest," riots!

... the artist:
As an artist, DeWayne B. Johnson has been widely exhibited in private collections and in public gallery competitions, during the course of which he has received a fair number of awards and recognition.

His body of work includes many in acrylic, oil, glass tile, felt, fabrics,and other media. He enjoys occasional experimentation with other materials.

His work is on permanent display in several private homes and studios, and on permanent public display in the offices of Interpersonal Developmental Facilitators, Pasadena, California, in the Journalism Department Library and Lounge at California State University, Northridge, and a number of other locales.

Many of his banners have been on seasonal display at the Northridge United Methodist Church, Northridge, California, as well as individual pieces of art done in acrylic and oil on canvas.

Among other honors, he was winner of an award of merit at the 1993 California State Fair. His work was featured in 1994, 1995 and 1996 shows at Los Angeles Century Gallery, Sylmar, California His "Magi" was given prominent display during the 1996 holiday season by the Orlando Gallery, Sherman Oaks, California Many other gallery shows of the past have involved his photojournalistic works, a medium he still enjoys but because of the press of time has been aside except as it is recreational. Many of his paintings are based upon his photojournalistic products.

The 4:31 a.m. Northridge earthquake on Jan. 17, 1994, put his artistic endeavors on hold pending repairs to his spirit and to his working environment. He is now back into the creative mode.

... the Professor of Journalism:
As a professor, Dr. Johnson served an unprecedented three terms as president of the faculty at Cal State Northridge, and two three-year terms as an academic senator of the California State University system. In the latter capacity he served as chairman of the system's Academic Senate Educational Policies Committee, a member of the Chancellor's Admissions Advisory Council, a variety of commisssions and task forces on minority student selection and retention, telecommunications and others.

He was twice honored by the California Newspaper Publishers Assn. as the outstanding professor of journalism in the state. He likewise as honored for his work by the Mayor of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.

He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Los Angeles Press Club and served as secretary of the board and parliamentarian. He was a long-time member of the national Freedom of Information Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. In years past he was national chairman of the Minority Group Recruitment Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists and national chairman for campus chapter activities. He is a past president of the Los Angeles professional chapter of SPJ/SDX and the (San Fernando) Valley Press Club.

He has been a frequent contributor to such professional publications as SPJ/SDX's Quill magazine, the Journalism Quarterly and the Book Review section of the New York Times.

In addition to that with the Los Angeles Times, his professional journalistic experience has included work as a staff correspondent for the United Press (prior to UPI), radio news editor for KMO, Tacoma; producer-moderator of The Southern Oregon Roundtable, KBES-TV, Medford, Ore.; copy editor, San Diego Union; public relations director, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.

Dr. Johnson previously taught at Los Angeles Pierce College, San Diego State College, San Diego Community College, Southern Oregon College and El Camino College (Torrance, California).

His degrees include a bachelor of arts, journalism, from UC Berkeley, 1948; master of arts, journalism, UCLA, 1950; and doctorate in higher education, UCLA, 1955.

Send e-mail to DeWayne B. Johnson at: DeWayne.Johnson55@yahoo.com. Or write to: 10118 Aldea Avenue, Northridge, CA 91325-1547.