Chuck Johnson, a 23-year-old aspiring journalist, set his sights on a significant opportunity – reporting on the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention. This historic event held the power to shape the future of his cherished state by drafting a fresh state Constitution.
In a letter to Helena Associated Bureau Chief Paul Freeman, the individual expressed their strong desire to attend and report on the opening days of the convention. They emphasized the immense value they would gain from this experience. Additionally, they mentioned their willingness to work for minimal compensation if finances posed an issue. Despite someone’s belief that the convention might be uninteresting, the person eagerly anticipated the event.
Johnson, naturally, secured the job – thus commencing a journalism career that would endure for fifty years, exclusively within the bounds of Montana. Throughout his illustrious career, he dedicated himself predominantly to reporting on politics and state policies from his hometown, the state capital.
Johnson, 74, died unexpectedly last weekend, and was found dead March 5 of natural causes at his Helena home after he failed to show up for dinner at his brother-in-law’s house.
Not only did he extensively cover the state and its politics, surpassing any reporter in its history, but he also served as a mentor and source of inspiration for numerous reporters who covered state government and Montana.
According to Dave Fenner, who collaborated with Johnson in Helena during the 1990s and later pursued a lengthy editing career in New York, Johnson falls into the category of individuals who, had you not crossed paths with them, could have significantly altered the course of your life. Fenner expresses that there are only a few people in his life who have steered him in a different direction, and their impact remains everlasting. Chuck was undoubtedly one of those influential individuals for Fenner.
For the majority of his 43-year career, Johnson dedicated himself as a full-time reporter, primarily based in the Helena bureaus for Lee Newspapers and the Great Falls Tribune. Unfortunately, in 2015, Lee decided to close its bureau and laid him off, leading to his retirement. However, his passion for journalism led him back to the Capitol in 2017, where he resumed his reporting duties, this time covering the Legislature for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
At the time of his death, he was chair of the board of Montana Free Press, a nonprofit digital news outlet that has become a leading source of political coverage in the state.
“He’s the kind of person whose presence could have significantly altered the course of your life, had you not crossed paths with him.”
Dave Fenner
Johnson was regarded by his colleagues as a remarkable individual who possessed a rare blend of resilience, extensive historical knowledge, affection for the people and state of Montana, and unwavering commitment to his profession and fellow workers.
However, what stood out the most, according to his colleagues, was his sincere and humble demeanor in his interactions with them and the individuals he reported on.
“Despite having this big reputation, it was cool to find out he was just this kind of really nice guy,” says Kathleen McLaughlin, a journalist and author from Butte, who worked with Johnson at the Lee Newspapers bureau. “A lot of journalists are walking egos. He wasn’t like that.”
Beneath the pleasant façade of being a nice guy, there lay an intense drive to report on the significant stories that held the utmost importance for Montana.
Johnson had already developed a comprehensive strategy in his concise proposal for covering the 1972 Constitutional Convention. His plan included a range of activities such as writing articles that would provide insights into the major concerns expected to be discussed at the convention, offering weekend summaries of the proceedings, and conducting surveys among the delegates prior to their arrival in Helena to highlight important matters to be addressed in the new document.
Although he had a significant reputation, it was refreshing to discover that he was simply a genuinely kind person. Many journalists tend to have inflated egos, but he was an exception to that.
Kathleen McLaughlin
He was a 23-year-old graduate student at the University of Montana, pursuing a master’s degree in history. Despite his dedication to his studies, he was willing to abandon them in order to report on the convention.
After securing the job, his AP boss frequently criticized him for dedicating excessive time to covering the convention and remaining at the Capitol until late in the evening.
Sarah Vowell, an author and historian in Bozeman who worked with Johnson on commemorating the 50th anniversary of the state Constitution last year, believes his gavel-to-gavel coverage of the convention was a roadmap for the rest of his career.
“It not only influenced the trajectory of Chuck’s career but also shaped his democratic values,” she explains. “His inquisitive nature extended to every Montanan, which profoundly impacted his reporting. This stems from witnessing a diverse group of Montanans come together to establish a Constitution.”
After participating in the Con Con job, Johnson swiftly transitioned into a role as a reporter for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau, catering to the leading daily papers in Billings, Missoula, Butte, and Helena, all within a span of two years. However, when Lee made the decision to shut down the bureau in 1977, Johnson seamlessly transitioned into the Capitol Bureau of the Great Falls Tribune.
According to Tom Kotynski, a former colleague of Johnson’s at the Capitol Bureau where they both worked as reporters and editors, Johnson possessed a remarkable talent for identifying significant stories and providing comprehensive coverage on them.
During the 1980 gubernatorial campaign, Republican candidate Jack Ramirez enlisted the help of an external consultant to create a series of negative advertisements, marking a new era of campaigning for Montana. This aggressive approach was unprecedented in the state, according to Kotynski.
“He states that previously, local consultants were predominantly available, but now the entire scenario has undergone a transformation.”
Kotynski says that Johnson was quick to take action, immediately delving into the story by covering the ads and providing a detailed profile of the consultant.
Kotynski recalls, “I have a vivid memory of Ted [Schwinden] being extremely angry with us. He argued that by publicizing those advertisements, we were inadvertently amplifying their impact. However, Chuck recognized the effectiveness of that campaigning style, and it completely changed the game.”
Kotynski asserts that Johnson introduced a fresh approach to covering Montana campaigns, advocating for extensive profiles resembling magazine articles on the candidates involved in significant races. Subsequently, other journalists in the state began adopting a similar approach, conducting “on-the-road” profiles wherein they would accompany candidates on their campaign journeys for a day.
McLaughlin reminisces about a different occasion when Johnson deviated from the crowd on a significant news event.
Following the capture of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski in 1996, who was discovered residing in the vicinity of Lincoln, Johnson opted not to hastily join his fellow journalists in interviewing the locals. Rather, he diligently examined the county property tax records, ultimately uncovering the precise whereabouts of Kaczynski’s cabin. Consequently, he managed to obtain the initial photograph of the quaint wooden shack.
According to her, “Chuck possessed a remarkable perspective when it came to stories. He consistently managed to uncover a distinct and captivating angle in each one.”
His friends and colleagues affirm that his reporting was deeply rooted in his belief of what Montanans needed to be aware of and what issues impacted them the most. This dedication stemmed from his genuine love for the state and its inhabitants.
In the mid-1970s, James Grady, a fellow classmate of Johnson’s at UM who later established himself as a successful novelist, reveals that Johnson had an opportunity to join the renowned muckraking national columnist Jack Anderson but declined the offer.
According to Grady, instead of pursuing a career as a journalist with a wide reach, he made the decision to remain in the state he adored and excel at covering Montana.
Colleagues remember Johnson’s tendency to focus on intricate and profound matters which he believed would shape the future of Montana and its people. Some of these subjects included the establishment of clean-air standards and the construction of the Colstrip power plants, the oversight of electric and natural gas rates by the Public Service Commission, as well as the management of the state budget.
Instead of pursuing a career as a journalist with a wide-reaching audience, he made the decision to remain in his beloved state of Montana, wholeheartedly dedicating himself to covering local news and providing the best possible coverage.
James Grady
In addition to his exceptional reporting skills, Johnson also earned a reputation for being a strong advocate and promoter of quality journalism within the state.
Jennifer McKee, a reporter in 2005, collaborated with Johnson at the Lee Newspapers State Bureau to initiate an investigation into the links between Montana U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns and the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Initially, national publications were responsible for uncovering a few stories, but McKee and Johnson delved deeper into lobbying records, leading them to their own series of incriminating narratives. Taking the lead at the young age of 29, McKee spearheaded this effort.
According to McKee, Burns had a field office located in the Helena building alongside the Lee bureau. On at least one occasion, Burns stormed into the newspaper office and demanded that McKee be removed from the story. Despite Johnson’s willingness to hear Burns out, McKee claims that his request was ignored, and the stories persisted.
“He and I never explicitly discussed having each other’s back,” she states. “It was an unspoken understanding. … If he ever had doubts or needed to contemplate it, he never disclosed it to me in my capacity as a reporter.”
Steve Prosinski, the editor of the Billings Gazette at the time, which is a Lee newspaper, affirms that Chuck’s work received minimal complaints due to his well-established reputation for being fair and having integrity.
“He instilled in me an immense sense of assurance, assuring me that the State Bureau was well taken care of,” he states. “As an editor, it was not something that would concern you.”
According to Prosinski and his colleagues, integrity emanated not just from his meticulousness in gathering facts, but also from his gentle and modest nature.
According to McKee, being a reporter requires a constant display of assertiveness, courage, and aggression. It also demands a certain level of resilience. Chuck possessed all these qualities, yet he managed to conceal the less favorable aspects.
According to Kotynski, Johnson’s tough stories would garner respect even from their subjects, as he consistently treated them with fairness.
Kotynski received minimal criticism about Johnson, mainly from people who believed he was overly kind and not stern enough towards those who deserved it. However, Kotynski asserts that he defended Johnson against these accusations.
Being a reporter requires a consistent display of assertiveness, courage, and aggression. It also demands a certain level of resilience. Chuck possessed all these qualities, although he never revealed the less desirable aspects of his personality.
Jennifer McKee
“He had access because he was fair,” he remarks, shedding light on Chuck’s unique trait. “During the Watergate era, our generation believed that being tough was essential. However, Chuck enlightened me with a valuable lesson: Kindness holds great significance. It contributes to one’s equilibrium.”
According to colleagues, Johnson had achieved stardom in Montana journalism, but one would never realize it by simply being in his presence.
At the start of the century, Sally Mauk, a senior news analyst at Montana Public Radio, enlisted Johnson to join a fresh radio show called “Capitol Talk.” Together with fellow Capitol reporter Mike Dennison, they would dissect the happenings of the Legislature each week and subsequently examine political campaigns.
According to Mauk, the host of the show who still continues to do so alongside other reporters and analysts, Johnson’s relaxed demeanor was the key factor that contributed to the show’s immediate success.
“He had a calming demeanor,” she remarks. “A person even described him as ‘soothingly authoritative’.”
He lacked arrogance and didn’t attempt to persuade others. Instead, he confidently shared his knowledge without any personal agenda. Moreover, he wasn’t hesitant to admit when he was uncertain about something.
Johnson’s goodwill extended to his fellow reporters, particularly the younger ones whom he motivated, assisted, and employed.
According to Fenner, who used to work at Lee Bureau, Johnson was not selfish with the best stories and frequently gave important assignments to his subordinates. McLaughlin further adds that Johnson treated them like any other reporter instead of treating them as interns.
Despite the male-dominated nature of the political-news profession at the time, Johnson also employed numerous young female reporters. However, according to McKee, she believes that Johnson did not intentionally prioritize the hiring of women reporters.
He possessed no sense of conceit, nor did he have any intention to persuade you. He simply conveyed his knowledge in a self-assured manner. Nevertheless, he had no hesitation admitting when he lacked knowledge on a subject.
Sally Mauk
She says that in her experience with Chuck, gender did not matter to him. The University of Montana’s J School was producing more female graduates, but he did not discriminate. The most skilled reporter would always be the one to secure the job.
Even though Johnson’s last full-time reporting job was in 2017, his dedication to Montana journalism and history persisted.
He had a “pretty triumphant last year of life,” Vowell says, with public appearances around the state in 2022, talking about the 50th anniversary of the Constitutional Convention and his role in covering it.
In 2021, he had also joined Montana Free Press board and assumed the role of board chair. Just before his passing, Johnson dedicated several hours to meet with a potential donor for the nonprofit news outlet.
Despite the financial struggles faced by traditional media, Tresa Smith, a rancher from the Boulder area, a board member of Free Press, and a close friend of Johnson, remains hopeful about the future of journalism in Montana. This optimism is what led Smith to actively participate in the nonprofit online organization.
According to her, Montana Free Press represents an innovative direction for the press, as it reaches diverse audiences and emphasizes the importance of preserving a free press. She believes that he recognized it as an opportunity to pursue a promising future, like riding a horse, by being a part of such an organization.
I believe he had a deep affection for Montana, just like many of us do. I mean, he possessed the potential to excel as a top reporter in any location.
