diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 65bf5a2c7..a5e2ef87b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -179,6 +179,9 @@ Below sections include the config options that can be defined in settings.py.
 * PLANNING_SEND_NOTIFICATION_FOR_SELF_ASSIGNMENT
     * Defaults to false
     * If true, sends a notification to a user on creating an assignment that is assigned to themselves
+* PLANNING_JSON_ASSIGNED_INFO_EXTENDED
+    * Defaults to `false`
+    * If `true`, it will add to planning JSON output additional info for coverages like assigned desk name/email and assigned user name/email.
 
 ### Authoring Config
 * PLANNING_CHECK_FOR_ASSIGNMENT_ON_PUBLISH
diff --git a/server/planning/output_formatters/json_planning.py b/server/planning/output_formatters/json_planning.py
index 479c55545..3f4627af9 100644
--- a/server/planning/output_formatters/json_planning.py
+++ b/server/planning/output_formatters/json_planning.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 # at https://www.sourcefabric.org/superdesk/license
 
 
+from flask import current_app as app
 from superdesk.publish.formatters import Formatter
 import superdesk
 import json
@@ -178,12 +179,11 @@ def _expand_delivery(self, coverage):
             if delivery.get("item_state") == CONTENT_STATE.PUBLISHED:
                 item_never_published = False
 
-        if item_never_published:
-            deliveries = []
-
         return deliveries, assignment.get("assigned_to").get("state")
 
     def _expand_coverage_contacts(self, coverage):
+        EXTENDED_INFO = bool(app.config.get("PLANNING_JSON_ASSIGNED_INFO_EXTENDED"))
+
         if (coverage.get("assigned_to") or {}).get("contact"):
             expanded_contacts = expand_contact_info([coverage["assigned_to"]["contact"]])
             if expanded_contacts:
@@ -194,8 +194,26 @@ def _expand_coverage_contacts(self, coverage):
 
         if (coverage.get("assigned_to") or {}).get("user"):
             user = get_resource_service("users").find_one(req=None, _id=coverage["assigned_to"]["user"])
-            if user:
+            if user and not user.get("private"):
                 coverage["assigned_user"] = {
                     "first_name": user.get("first_name"),
                     "last_name": user.get("last_name"),
+                    "display_name": user.get("display_name"),
+                }
+
+                if EXTENDED_INFO:
+                    coverage["assigned_user"].update(
+                        email=user.get("email"),
+                    )
+
+        if (coverage.get("assigned_to") or {}).get("desk"):
+            desk = get_resource_service("desks").find_one(req=None, _id=coverage["assigned_to"]["desk"])
+            if desk:
+                coverage["assigned_desk"] = {
+                    "name": desk.get("name"),
                 }
+
+                if EXTENDED_INFO:
+                    coverage["assigned_desk"].update(
+                        email=desk.get("email"),
+                    )
diff --git a/server/planning/tests/output_formatters/json_planning_test.py b/server/planning/tests/output_formatters/json_planning_test.py
index 3ff9aa94f..d4365786b 100644
--- a/server/planning/tests/output_formatters/json_planning_test.py
+++ b/server/planning/tests/output_formatters/json_planning_test.py
@@ -318,3 +318,44 @@ def test_matching_product_ids(self):
             output = formatter.format(item, {"name": "Test Subscriber"})[0]
             output_item = json.loads(output[1])
             self.assertEqual(output_item["products"], [{"code": "prod-type-planning", "name": "planning-only"}])
+
+    def test_assigned_desk_user(self):
+        with self.app.app_context():
+            item = deepcopy(self.item)
+            desk_id = ObjectId()
+            user_id = ObjectId()
+
+            item["coverages"][0]["assigned_to"].update(
+                desk=desk_id,
+                user=user_id,
+            )
+
+            self.app.data.insert(
+                "desks",
+                [{"_id": desk_id, "name": "sports", "email": "sports@example.com"}],
+            )
+
+            self.app.data.insert("users", [{"_id": user_id, "display_name": "John Doe", "email": "john@example.com"}])
+
+            formatter = JsonPlanningFormatter()
+            with mock.patch.dict(self.app.config, {"PLANNING_JSON_ASSIGNED_INFO_EXTENDED": True}):
+                output = formatter.format(item, {"name": "Test Subscriber"})[0]
+            output_item = json.loads(output[1])
+            coverage = output_item["coverages"][0]
+            assert coverage["assigned_user"] == {
+                "first_name": None,
+                "last_name": None,
+                "display_name": "John Doe",
+                "email": "john@example.com",
+            }
+            assert coverage["assigned_desk"] == {
+                "name": "sports",
+                "email": "sports@example.com",
+            }
+
+            # without config
+            output = formatter.format(item, {"name": "Test Subscriber"})[0]
+            output_item = json.loads(output[1])
+            coverage = output_item["coverages"][0]
+            assert "email" not in coverage["assigned_user"]
+            assert "email" not in coverage["assigned_desk"]