At The Tribune, the national newspaper, two chief reporters had quit without warning. Johnson agreed to act as the newspaper's chief reporter up to the 1977 general election. In October 1976, he clashed with the Progressive Liberal Party leader, Prime Minister Lynden Pindling during the ZNS-TV radio programme, Contact.
Johnson took over at The Tribune as its top reporter, covering events up to the 1977 general election. He had a disagreement with the Progressive Liberal Party's leader, Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, on the ZNS-TV radio show, Contact, in October 1976.