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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.
Back to A J Johnson’s profile

Interview

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.

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Lamont Cranston (The Shadow)

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Being a journalist means that you get to contribute to what is being discussed and that is a powerful and enlightening feeling!

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

No real preference - I like working!

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

I love ScribeHow, Google Drive, and Twitter/X.

Who do you wish followed you?

Any un/informed influencer with a large following

Why did you become a journalist?

I love investigative work and learning new things so this is the perfect gig

Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?

No, I was too shy to do the work that needed to be done at that time

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

A new civic guide on Public Comments (Nov. 2024) that works for any public meeting anywhere.

When's the best time to pitch you?

I'm a night owl but I have to get up early so it doesn't really matter what time it is.

What's the worst pitch you ever got?

(There are bad pitches?)?

What's your favorite drink?

Long Island

When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?

In a book

Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?

I like celebrity gossip, my favorite ear candy.
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