Michelle Johnson

mijohn2@bu.edu
32 Cheshire St., Jamaica Plain, Ma., 02130

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

Boston University
Associate Professor of the Practice, Multimedia Journalism
Teach intro and advanced multimedia journalism courses focused on writing
specifically for the web, production of multimedia including photo galleries, audio
slideshows, video and data visualization. As program director, offer input on hiring of
adjunct faculty and serve as advisor to journalism faculty on issues related to
multimedia. 2009-present.

Committee Assignments/Service
Co-chair Online News Association Conference, 2011, Boston
Curriculum Committee, Journalism department
Multicultural Advisory Committee, Boston University
Faculty Liaison, New England Scholastic Press Association
Judge, Toner Prize for Political Reporting, Syracuse University
Guest Faculty, Cape Code Writers Center, Summer 2011

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.
2006 – 2009

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 Editing Program
Guest Faculty
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

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

National Association of Black Journalists

Student Project Coordinator. Supervise college students, professional volunteers in
production of a daily convention news website (nabjconvention.org).1993-2011.

National Association of Hispanic Journalists

Student Online Project Coordinator. Supervised staff and student reporters in
production of NAHJ national convention news web site. 2001-2011.

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.

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, 2000-2011.

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
Project Manager
National Public Radio, Washington, DC
202-513-2000

Teresa Hanafin
Director of Community Publishing, Boston.com
hanafin@boston.com
617-929-3066

Personal:

Evelynn Hammonds
Dean, Harvard College
hammonds@fas.harvard.edu

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