The top stories David Johnson has covered in his 40-year career

PITTSBURGH — Forty years. Thousands of newscasts, and for David Johnson, countless stories told to audiences across the region. David sat down with Channel 11 anchor Lisa Sylvester to recount his favorite stories over four decades of delivering news to Pittsburgh viewers.

“I think by far number one is the Quecreek mine rescue. Rick Earle and I were out there almost the entire time. It started on a Wednesday (July 2002) and ended very early on a Sunday morning,” said David.

“It had it all. Nine miners trapped hundreds of feet underground. Water is coming toward them. They’re running out of air. Will they be saved? The governor and the chief engineer from the state just made it their mission to do everything they could to get them. At one point a couple days in a drill bit broke and they had to send out for a new drill bit and everybody’s thinking, ‘Well now they’re not going to survive.”

Governor Mark Schweiker was updating the media with regular news conferences in an old supermarket that was no longer in service.

“That’s where all the cameras were set up and I think it was 12:45 or 1am on a Sunday and he stands in front of the camera, and announces, ‘All nine alive!’ We all erupted into cheers, and tears are rolling down some of our faces. It was just so special because it had a happy ending. I loved it,” said David.

There were also gut-wrenching stories that did not end well---Sept. 11, and the crash of Flight 93 into a field in Shanksville.

“I do think about the heroes on that plane and how they had the wherewithal to make sure the plane didn’t make it to Washington, so in that way it was very, very special. But tragic because they all died.”

David was outside the Tree of Life on that tragic day--there to keep viewers updated and to thank first responders.

He was also there on the day the shooter was sentenced, reporting for NBC Nightly News- to a national audience.

During his four decades here, David has seen fire.

There’s been rain.

And historic flooding that ripped away at the fabric of some communities.

“It’s amazing how much damage water does, and we are prone to flooding with our hills and valleys of course, but I’m amazed by people’s resilience. Their homes are flooded. Everything is ruined. They’ve lost everything and they say, ‘You know, I’m not going anywhere, I love it here.”

David has seen snow. Lots and lots of it.

“I think it was 1993. Supposed to be the storm of the century. It’s since been eclipsed many times.”

It’s hard to think about favorite stories in the Pittsburgh area and not talk about sports stories.

“I just love it when the Steelers go to the Super Bowl and just the excitement on a Steeler’s weekend going to the Strip District. Everybody’s buying their Steelers gear. The terrible towels. Watching Steelers fans in other cities where there’s more Steelers fans in the stadium. There’s nothing like it.”

There have been big “gets” ---interviews with politicians, and network stars, and even a national game show appearance on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” ---with a $100,000 first place win!

“There’s a great picture where we’re (referring to former Channel 11 co-anchor Peggy Finnegan) celebrating that. It was the Pittsburgh Food Bank that we won money for.”

But the stories that David says he’ll take with him are the ones shared by you--- his viewers.

“It’s exciting to sit down with somebody famous, but inevitably I feel like Joe and Betty down the street and what they’re going through and the joys they may have or how they’ve persevered through tragedy is more important to me than interviewing a big name,” he said.

“I think what really touches me and this can happen on any given day, any week, is when someone loses a loved one in tragic circumstances. Sometimes they will contact us, and they’ll say I want to tell you about my son. They describe how wonderful they were, what a great loss for the family and for the community. And I think that’s really beautiful, that you want in your grief to tell everybody how great this person was.”

As an anchor person, David has worn a lot of hats; in some instances providing critical information during times of stress, or national crisis. Part of the job is reassuring people that it’s going to be okay.

“I’m going to do my best as a news anchor and reporter to help guide you through this. Here’s what you need to know--- yes, this is bad, but hopefully it’s going to get better.”

What goes through his head on a big news day, just before the “on-air” light turns red?

“I get a little butterfly still once in a while. So, I think that’s a respect for live TV. What I’ve come to learn is---don’t take it for granted. Don’t be overly serious. Don’t be silly. You have a responsibility to the viewers. Live up to it.”

David Johnson’s last day on the air is Dec. 13.

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