The newsmagazine program was hosted by former CNN International anchor and former CBS News correspondent Joie Chen, and was produced from Al Jazeera America's Newseum studio in Washington, D.C.

It featured correspondents Adam May, Lori Jane Gliha, Sheila MacVicar, Christof Putzel, Michael Okwu, Sarah Hoye, and Lisa Fletcher.

[3] The program presents in-depth segments each night on the economy, government, education, healthcare and the environment, and include breaking news stories.

America Tonight also incorporates social media interaction on screen and off to reflect the views of its American audience.

In 2015 Al Jazeera and producer Jihan Hafiz won a National Association Of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence award in the "Long Form Feature" category for the story "Fists Up Fight Back" about a group of young female black lives matter activists in Washington, D.C.[6]