Michelle Johnson Email & Phone Number

Mansfield, Missouri

When someone asks me what I do at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., I tell them "I'm a media Swiss Army knife." I've never had a title or a job description at Baker Creek, and maybe that's a good thing. Here's what I do. I tell stories. Stories of people who grow seeds, save seeds, build communities, feed people, and do some little part of making the world better. It sparks joy to bring the craft and care of my 25-year career as a journalist, in public media, print, and digital publishing, to these stories. I created "Seed Stories," a multi-platform content marketing initiative that uses storytelling, historical research, images, and sound to engage customers with the amazing stories of the more than 1,200 varieties that Baker Creek offers. The project encompasses video, print, digital, and social media assets. I also work as a writer, editor, photographer, videographer, and voice-over artist on other projects. Since the company restarted its public events in 2022, I recruit expert speakers on gardening, seed saving, food security, and health, and host and produce the speaker venues. When reporters, editors, producers, or other members of the media need information, a content expert, comment, or media assets, I'm their gal. Connecting media with the materials they need for a story makes me really happy. I work with freelance writers. I write ad copy. I write email newsletters. I edit everything to within an inch of its life, and I love every minute of it.

Produce independent multimedia journalism projects and stories for public media outlets. Projects completed include “Yadkin River Story,” a multimedia documentary and photo exhibit about the East Bend area of the Yadkin River in North Carolina, and “Story of My Life,” a project documenting the lives of six developmentally disabled adults. Current projects include “Sacred Rivers,” a documentary about river rituals as a way of exploring America’s changing cultural landscape. Write comprehensive research reports for Congressional Quarterly Researcher, an issues and educational imprint of Sage Publications.Develop social media strategies for small businesses and nonprofits and provide digital content management services.

Madison, Wisconsin

Executive producer for two talk shows on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio, "The Joy Cardin Show" and "The Larry Meiller Show."

Indianapolis, Indiana

I managed WFYI's local news and public affairs content for radio and digital media. The station and the newsroom experienced impressive growth during my time there, a trajectory that continues today.

I led a team of online content producers and worked cooperatively with all stakeholders in Journalnow.com, including the newsroom, online advertising production and Media General Digital Media. Oversaw the production of digital news content, including Journalnow.com, email newsletters and breaking news alerts, mobile news content, multimedia and social media.

The state editor oversees reporters in three county bureaus in Northwest North Carolina, along with a bureau in Raleigh covering state government and politics and one in Washington D.C. covering the federal government and the North Carolina congressional delegation.

I produced stories as part of a team of reporters, editors and producers for "North Carolina Voices," a documentary series. My stories aired as part of two projects, one on high school and one on poverty. The poverty series won numerous national awards, including the Alfred I. duPoint-Columbia award for excellence in broadcast.

The Night Metro Editor serves a critical role as the chief communicator (and problem solver) between reporters, line editors and the designers and copy editors who produce the newspaper. The role requires quick thinking, skillful juggling, and impeccable news judgement and ethical decision making. As night editor I also supervised the night cops reporter and the obituary clerk.

I covered the region's colleges and universities, the UNC board of governors and wrote about trends and issues in higher education.

Managed staff of full-time and freelance reporters; was responsible for daily news content; produced spots and features for National Public Radio; served as local host for NPR program "All Things Considered".

While working for an NPR affiliate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina I produced occasional news spots and features for broadcast on National Public Radio.

Taught a "Writing for Radio" course through Salem College's continuing-education program.

Produced newscasts, news features and interviews for local broadcast; produced occasional news spots and features for National Public Radio; served as local host for NPR program "All Things Considered."

KAXE is a non-commercial community radio station that serves most of northern Minnesota. It was one of the first rural community radio stations in the country and is still community-owned and operated and programmed mainly by volunteers.

Pr Strategy Certificate, Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

Graduate Certificate, Communication And Technology

Graduate Certificate, Communication And Technology Program, School Of Journalism

Activities and Societies: I graduated from the program in December, 2008. Courses completed: JOMC 710: Computing Concepts and Issues.

Master Of Arts, English Language And Literature

Bachelor Of Arts, English

Education record