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A J Johnson on Muck Rack

A J Johnson

  • Michigan Reporter and Detroit Documenter, Freelance
Detroit, Michigan, Milwaukee
As seen in: Travels by Carriage, National Press Foundation, Hydrocarbon Processing, Bridge Detroit, Outlier Media, Planet Detroit, The Documenters Network, Michigan Press Association, Three Moons! : A W.O.F Podcast
Covers:  Air quality, business, community, development, education, elections, health, housing, investigations, juvenile court, public policy, sustainability, transportation, utilities, & voting matters.

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A J Johnson’s Biography

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A 2025 National Press Foundation Local Business Journalism Fellow and a 2024 Michigan Press Association awardee, A J is an investigative freelance journalist who regularly covers regional, state, county and local government meetings of appointed and elected officials. In 2025, she began using Bluesky to live-report public meetings and has been an education podcaster on the DetroitJCS audio podcast that she produces on Spotify since October 2022.

Her written reporting coverage includes air ineq…

A J Johnson’s Journalist Portfolio

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Public Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Hearings at the City of Detroit

Public Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Hearings at the City of Detroit

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson provided news coverage of the fiscal year (FY) 2027 public budg…

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Public Meeting of the Detroit Local Emergency Planning Committee

Public Meeting of the Detroit Local Emergency Planning Committee

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson provided live, breaking news coverage on the Detroit Local Emer…

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Public Meeting of the Detroit Board of Ethics

Public Meeting of the Detroit Board of Ethics

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson provided live, breaking news coverage for the Detroit Board of …

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Public Water Authority Audit Committee Meeting

Public Water Authority Audit Committee Meeting

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson provided live, breaking news coverage for the board of director…

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Public Water Authority Committee Meeting

Public Water Authority Committee Meeting

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson provided live, breaking news coverage as the committee was hesi…

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Civic Guide: A Detroiter's guide to the Michigan Open Meetings Act

Civic Guide: A Detroiter's guide to the Michigan Open Meetings Act

Freelancer and Detroit Documenter A J Johnson wrote about the Michigan's Open Meetings Act (OMA), a foundatio…

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Articles

Non-Departmental fiscal year 2027 budget hearing

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By A J Johnson
| Outlier Media
This story is part of our Detroit City Council budget hearings coverage, copublished with BridgeDetroit and in collaboration with Detroit Documenters. Two departments with distinct budget amounts comprise the entirety of what is considered “non-departmental” in the city budget.
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FOIA 101: A Detroiter’s guide to the Freedom of Information Act

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By A J Johnson
| Outlier Media
This story is part of Civic Guides, a series by Detroit Documenters on how to solve everyday issues and make the city work for you. Did you know that most government agencies are legally required to respond to public records requests? The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives everyone — even noncitizens — the right to request records from federal agencies.
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A Detroiter’s guide to the Michigan Open Meetings Act

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By A J Johnson
| Outlier Media
This story is part of Civic Guides, a series by Detroit Documenters on how to solve everyday issues and make the city work for you. When it comes to public meetings, Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) is the foundational law that guides the public on what to expect. Closely following the federal Government in the Sunshine Act, the OMA aims to promote openness and transparency in the government’s relationship with the public.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Undergrad school newspaper, The Mirror News, but I did radio in elementary school (which picqued my interest)...

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes, my grandmother had an old IBM Selectric that I used to beat before I learned how to type.

How is social media changing news?

It's the state of news today: incomplete in a rush to be the first. On the other hand, it can exert transparency from a source.

Awards

Michigan Press Association Best Newspaper Contest

2024 - Best Opinion (Class 42)

The Michigan Press Association Best Newspaper Contest allows member journalists, photojournalists, columnists, designers to show off their best work.

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National Press Foundation Local Business Journalism Fellowship (2025)

2025 - Business Journalism

The National Press Foundation has selected 35 journalists from across the country to participate in the 2025 Local Business Journalism Fellowship. Fellows will travel to Washington, D.C., Sept. 15-18 and have exclusive briefings with economists, small business owners and other experts. This four-day training will give the local reporters opportunity to dive into the business infrastructure across America today and what policies and practices fuel stability and growth for companies large and small in their own communities.

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