Dr.

Johnette

Magner

 

News Anchor • Investigative Reporter • Author

 

ABOUT

Dr. Johnette Magner is a communications professional with more than 30 years of experience in broadcast and print journalism, public relations, politics, governmental affairs, and higher education.

Dr. Magner is currently the 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM television news anchor for the ABC affiliate KTBS-TV3, two of the highest rated newscasts in the Ark-La-Tex, and an award-winning investigative reporter.

Prior to joining KTBS, Dr. Magner was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Louisiana Tech University.

She is an expert in Digital Wellness, having authored a workbook for parents of children in kindergarten through 5th grade.

EDUCATION & BACKGROUND

Dr. Magner obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin,
a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from LSU Shreveport, and a
Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Maryland at College Park.
She is also a certified Digital Wellness Educator.

PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE

In addition to her work in television, Dr. Magner has more than 25 years of experience in academia and the private sector including:

    • Assistant Professor of Communications, Louisiana Tech University
    • Vice-President of Public Affairs for Ketchum, a Top 10 Global PR Agency
    • Publisher of SB Magazine, a monthly magazine covering news and events in Shreveport-Bossier
    • Co-founder and Executive Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Business Alliance for Higher Education (SBBA), an advocacy organization for higher education in Northwest Louisiana
    • Editorial Board Member, Shreveport Times
    • Monthly Columnist, multiple newspapers and magazines
    • Co-Host of “Mondays with Johnette” on Strategies for Living, a weekly show on KEEL Radio.
    • Morning TV Anchor, KTAL-TV6, the NBC Affiliate in Shreveport, LA

HONORS & AWARDS

  • 2024 Korbel Award Second Place, Skipping School, Louisiana Society of Professional Journalists
  • Athena Leadership Award, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
  • Beacon Award for Education, Grambling State University
  • Spirit of Scouting and Silver Beaver Awards, Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America
  • Circle of Excellence Award, LSUS Alumni Association
  • Silver Kudos Award, Ketchum
  • Thoth Award finalist, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) National Capital Chapter
  • Professor of the Year finalist, LSUS Student Government Association
  • Consumer Reporter of the Year, Better Business Bureau
  • Public Service Award, Louisiana Public Health Association
  • Louisiana Shots for Tots Pin Award, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

 

 

AWARD WINNING SUBMISSION

In the 2019-2020 school year, there were 379 elementary school students in Caddo Parish School System (CPSS) who had ten or more unexcused absences. Three years later, after the onset of COVID, the number skyrocketed to 3014. CPSS is the largest school district in North Louisiana with 24,000 elementary-age students.

It was this data, shared with me in the early spring while recording an education podcast, that launched my four-month investigation, five-part series, and half-hour special on the truancy crisis plaguing poverty-ridden North Louisiana. For this series, I focused on Caddo Parish and interviewed 20 people, from national expert Hedy Chang to parents of children with high numbers of unexcused absences

PERSONAL

Johnette is married to Tim Magner, and together they have four boys:
Clark McCrery, Harrison Magner, Scott McCrery and Nathan Magner.
They reside in Shreveport, Louisiana.