Michelle Johnson
[email protected] 32 Cheshire St., Jamaica Plain, Ma., 02130 617‐970‐1067 SUMMARY Seasoned editor, writer and educator with experience in print and online. Part of team that launched boston.com, the Boston Globe’s award‐winning regional web site. Experienced in developing course content and teaching a variety of multimedia and print applications including Photoshop, Flash, SoundSlides, Adobe InDesign, DreamWeaver, Audacity, Audition, MovieMaker and web content management systems such as WordPress, Moveable Type and Joomla with a focus on multimedia storytelling. EDUCATION M.S., Journalism, Columbia University, 1982. B.S., Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park, 1979. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Emerson College Journalist in Residence, Department of Journalism As term faculty, teach a variety of basic and advanced journalism courses including Interactive News, Online Publishing, Newsgathering, Copy Editing and Design for print and web, Images of News (includes multimedia labs), History of Journalism. Developed course syllabi and lectures covering a range of current and historical issues in journalism, ethics related to use of images in print and online, and trends in online news. Design tutorials to instruct students in use of various print, web production, multimedia applications, blogging tools, and still image and video editing. Fall 2006 – present. Committee Assignments/Service Emerson College Conduct Board, 2008‐09; Advisor, The Other Tradition, Center for Diversity Newsletter and web site, 2008‐09; Common Reading and Viewing Experience Committee (CRVE) 2007‐2008. Maynard Institute Multimedia Faculty, Copy Editing Program Lecture and teach multimedia applications and editing for the web to journalists selected from newspapers nationwide to participate in an intensive six‐week training program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Lead discussions on multimedia storytelling, best practices in online news, latest production tools. Review and critique multimedia packages produced by participants. June 2007, June 2008, June 2009 Boston University Adjunct Professor, Journalism Taught advanced research course focusing on techniques for gathering background information for stories using off‐line and online resources, including advanced techniques for using search engines, specialty databases, and Lexis/Nexis. Instructed students in use of software such as Microsoft Access and Excel to pull stories out of numbers, reviewed ethical issues related to use of digital resources. Fall 2003‐Spring 2006
Computerworld.com Freelance Columnist Wrote a feature column reviewing latest gadgets and networking‐related hardware for online trade publication targeted at information technology managers. January 2006‐2007 The Boston Globe Personal Tech Columnist Freelanced a bi‐weekly column for the Boston Globe’s business section. Explained the intricacies of personal technology in plain English; reviewed hardware, software, web sites. Contributor, technology special sections. 1997‐2005 Superior Telegram, Superior, Wis. Newsroom Consultant Served as an interim editor, consultant to small Knight Ridder‐owned daily on short‐term, temporary assignment. Advised and made recommendations to publisher on hiring of a new editor and staff development. Served as writing coach, advised staff on editing, layout, headline‐writing. Conducted writing workshop for reporting staff. November‐December, 2005 Emerson College Technology Manager, School of Communication Advised departments of Journalism and Communication in acquisition of latest technologies for incorporation into journalism/communication curriculum. Represented department on team charged with design and construction of new multi‐million‐dollar cross‐media newsroom opened in Fall 03. Assisted with special web projects; liaison between journalism faculty and IT staff. 10/01‐9/03 The Boston Globe Boston Globe Electronic Publishing Editorial Manager, Boston Globe Online Part of team that launched boston.com, a regionally focused site with the Boston Globe as its flagship. Supervised staff in creation of online daily newspaper; developed special sections; liaison between newsroom and online staff; advised content developers for other areas of the site. 4/95‐3/96 Assistant Business Editor Editor of Plugged In, a weekly consumer‐oriented computer and technology page, and Emerging Business, a twice‐a‐week feature on start‐up and growing businesses. Supervised staff of three reporters and several freelancers. Wrote weekly column "Tech Speak," a roundup on the Internet, online services, and consumer computing news. Oversaw redesign of Plugged In, creating new features and a consistent look for the page. 6/94‐4/95
Copy Desk Supervisor Supervised staff of 11 editors who produced six weekly regional sections of the Sunday Globe, including City Weekly. Critiqued and made recommendations on layout and editing of the sections; oversaw redesign. 6/91‐8/93 Senior Assistant Night Editor Supervised metro and national/foreign copy desks; part of team that selected stories for page one; page one layout editor for Sunday Globe; approved page one headlines, captions. Layout of daily Globe as assigned. Promoted to this exempt position after two years as Assistant Night Editor. 1988‐1991 Assistant Political Editor Detached from Night Desk to join political unit for 1988 presidential campaign. Edited daily, advance copy and commentary; on staff at GOP national convention, New Orleans. 1987‐1988 Assistant Night Editor/Layout Editor Responsible for production of New England section, Sunday Globe; overnight editor for Sunday Globe responsible for placement of late‐breaking stories, re‐plates, coordinating page flow. Promoted from copy editor after three years on copy desk. 1986‐1987 Copy Editor, Night Desk Metro, national/foreign copy desks. Edited copy for content and style; wrote headlines, captions. 1983‐1986 The Evening Press, Binghamton, NY Copy Editor Edited wire, local copy, wrote headlines for p.m. paper. 1982‐83 HONORS John S. Knight Fellow, 1993‐94 Chosen as one of 12 US journalists for an academic year of study at Stanford University. Course work included computer science, literature, earth science, computer interface design and history of jazz. Awards for Outstanding Service National Association of Black Journalists, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association ASSOCIATIONS Member, National Association of Black Journalists. Past editor, NABJ Journal. Member, Boston Association of Black Journalists. Founding national board member, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, co‐ founder, New England chapter. Member, Online News Association.
VOLUNTEER/SERVICE ANSE, 2008 Online Student Project Coordinator. Oversaw online coverage of annual convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, working with student and professional staff from across the nation. UNITY, Journalists of Color, 2004, 2008 Student Project Coordinator. Oversaw online coverage of UNITY Journalists of Color convention, Washington, DC. Managed, scheduled staff of 12 student reporters and photographers, 20 professional reporters, photographers, editors, designers. Created daily story budget, approved special projects, ran daily news meeting. Assigned team and supervised continuous online coverage of speeches by presidential candidates. Mentored students interested in multimedia journalism. National Association of Black Journalists Student Project Coordinator. Supervise college students, professional volunteers in production of a daily convention news website (nabjconvention.org). Tampa, 2009; Las Vegas, 2007, Indianapolis 2006; Atlanta, August 2005; Dallas, August 2003; Milwaukee, July, 2002; Orlando, Aug. 2001; Phoenix, Aug. 2000; other cities, 1993‐1999. National Association of Hispanic Journalists Student Online Project Coordinator. Supervised staff and student reporters in production of NAHJ national convention news web site. Puerto Rico, 2009; San Jose, 2007, Ft. Lauderdale, 2006, Fort Worth, Texas, 2005, New York City, July 2003; San Diego, June 2002, Phoenix, June 2001. Online News Association, 2005 Student Project Coordinator. Assisted in production of online daily news coverage by students and professional staff of 2005 Online News Association conference. Assigned stories, edited copy, updated site via content management system. National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Student Online Project Coordinator, NLGJA Convention news web site. Off‐site advisor, 2007, 2008; Miami 2006, Chicago, 2005, New York, June 2004, San Francisco, September, 2003; Philadelphia, Sept. 2002, Dallas, Sept. 2001, San Francisco, Sept. 2000. Urban Journalism Workshop Co‐chair, board member, Dow Jones/UMass Boston High School Urban Journalism Workshop, Boston. 1985‐2001. Production Editor, board member, 2001‐2004. (Program is now defunct.)
References for Michelle Johnson Professional: Doug Mitchell Former Project Manager National Public Radio, Washington, DC 202‐513‐2000 Teresa Hanafin Director of Community Publishing, Boston.com
[email protected] 617‐929‐3066 Personal: Evelynn Hammonds Dean, Harvard College
[email protected] Projects/Examples of Students’ Work JR408 Demonstration Site Site produced by my students in Interactive News, Spring 08, showcasing technologies and tools learned in the course. www.mijohn.com/jr408 UNITY 08 Convention News Site As project coordinator, I oversaw development, launch and daily operation of this news site produced by students and professional staff from NABJ, AAJA, NAHJ and NAJA. unitynews.org Student Work Produced in My Courses “Images of News” and “Interactive News” Coolidge Corner (Concept Flash Piece) http://pages.emerson.edu/Courses/spring08/JR408/Michelle_Johnson/Coolidge_Project/
Mass. Cigarette Tax Hike http://pages.emerson.edu/Courses/spring08/JR200/Stephen_Klise/final_project/ Ft. Point Artists (Concept Flash Piece) http://pages.emerson.edu/Courses/spring07/JR408/Gina_Petruccelli/ftpoint.swf Economic Downturn http://pages.emerson.edu/Courses/spring08/JR200/Christopher_Balchum/index.html
Personal Multimedia Better Way Personal piece I produced in the wake of the economic turmoil on Wall Street. www.mijohn.com/BetterWay