WTOK-TV personality John Johnson left the anchor desk Wednesday, following the 6 o’clock news broadcast. However, he has not left the building.

    Johnson, who joined the Channel 11 news team in 1985, will continue his duties as director of news and community relations, but plans to devote more time to special news projects.

    “I still will do ‘On the Record,’ but I will probably do more special programs such as our Town Meetings – which focuses on subjects that affect our community – and other projects,” said the veteran newsman.

    “Nothing has really changed, except I’m coming off the air on a full-time basis,” he said.

    After 26 years behind the anchor desk, Johnson said he’s getting older and “I can’t see that teleprompter as well as I used to.”

    He assures that the evening news broadcast is in good hands.

    “We’ve got some good people who are going to take care of that,” he said.

    Wade Phillips, who currently serves as executive producer and anchors the 5 p.m. news broadcast, will now also anchor the 6 p.m. news. Nick Adam will anchor the 10 p.m. broadcast weeknights, and Chip Scarborough will assume duties as weekend anchor.

    Viewers will still occasionally get to see their favorite newsman behind the anchor desk.

    “I’ll fill in from time to time,” Johnson said.

    Johnson is a 1968 graduate of Rust College in Holly Springs, and a graduate of the University of Iowa with an advanced degree in 1972.

    As he tries to make the transition with little or no fanfare, Johnson expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the years.

    “People have been really, really good to me. I’m a people person and I enjoy meeting people, so being on the air has not been a chore; it’s been fun,” he said. “I’ll still be visible in the community, just not from behind the anchor’s desk.