Michelle

Johnson
mijohn2@bu.edu

SUMMARY
Seasoned educator, editor, writer and multimedia producer with
experience in print and online. Experienced in developing course
content and teaching a variety of multimedia applications including
Photoshop, Flash, SoundSlides, FinalCut, Audacity, web content
management systems such as WordPress, and data visualization
tools with a focus on multimedia storytelling. Part of team that
launched boston.com, the Boston Globes award-winning regional
web site.

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.
Oversee production of long-form projects in advanced class with
heavy emphasis on visuals and advanced storytelling techniques.
Created partnership with Patch.com to provide intro course students
with opportunities to have their work published online. Revised,
updated curriculum. 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, September 2011,
Boston: Served as co-chair of the annual convention of the
premier professional organization of journalists who work in
online news.
Curriculum Committee, Journalism department, Boston
University: Serving on committee tasked with revising and
updating undergraduate and graduate curriculum. 2011-2012
Multicultural Advisory Committee, Boston University, 2010-present
Faculty Liaison, New England Scholastic Press Association, 2009-
present
 Judge, Toner Prize for Political Reporting, Syracuse University, 2011-
present
Guest Faculty, Cape Code Writers Conference, August, 2011

Emerson College
Journalist in Residence, Department of Journalism
As term faculty, taught 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 (included multimedia labs), and History of Journalism.
Developed course syllabi and lectures covering current and historical
issues in journalism, ethics related to use of images in print and
online, and trends in online news. Designed 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, June 2010-2011

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 Globes 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).1993-2012.

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, 2012

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

Super Tuesday Team Coverage, Boston University News Service:

http://bujournalism.com/campaign2012

Boston Marathon

http://bujournalism.com/marathon2011

Final Projects, Advanced Online Journalist

http://www.bujournalism.com/JO550/archive-final-projects/