LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Good Morning America' weekend co-anchor Janai Norman always wanted to become a journalist while she was growing up. That dream finally materialized in July 2022 when she was offered the role of a co-host for the weekend edition of the show alongside Whit Johnson. Since then, Janai has made a name through robust coverage of mental health issues surrounding Black Women.
Janai’s work mostly revolves around covering pop culture and celebrity news. The 33-year-old has proven that as a Black woman in the media, it’s possible to achieve a dream with hard work. Janai recalls making many sacrifices while coming up the ladder but persevered to reach where she is today.
Who is Janai Norman?
Janai Norman is a 33-year-old co-host of the ‘GMA’ weekend edition alongside Whit Johnson, Gio Benitez, and meteorologist Somara Theodore. Norman had always stated that her interest in journalism started at a very young age since she developed a liking for writing and she took a journalism class that exposed her to basic reporting in the sophomore year of high school. After being recognized for her impeccable writing skills, Norman became editor-in-chief of her school newspaper in her junior and senior years, in which she wrote about whatever interested her in a monthly column.
Norman later attended the University of Missouri and interned for NewsOne at ABC in New York City. She solidified her place at ABC through sheer handwork and worked in both Oklahoma and Florida before landing back in New York at ABC. However, before making the jump to the ‘GMA’ weekend edition, Norman worked as a multi-platform reporter for ABC. Norman is one of the youngest anchors on the ‘GMA’ panel and often states that she wishes to use this platform to connect with as many people as possible.
Janai Norman advocates for Black women battling mental health stigmas
Just before joining the ‘GMA’ weekend edition in July 2022, Norman came forth with her experience on how many black women had helped her come out of some of the “hardest moments” of her life. Norman appeared on ‘GMA’ and Hulu special ‘Breaking the Mental Health Stigma for Black Women’ and spoke about her challenges in dealing with her deteriorating mental health condition. “I spent a lot of time working on my mental health”, Norman said in the special while praising the fact that she had a Black woman manager to look up to at work. In an extremely personal and up-close interview, Norman revealed all she was going through and shared her journey of overcoming mental health issues. The ‘GMA’ host continues to inspire the Black community through her work and thanks her husband Eli Norman for his continuous support.
