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Mike Ellis on Muck Rack

Mike Ellis

Verified
Michigan
As seen in: City Pulse, MSN, Yahoo Life, Golfweek, USA Today, Yahoo News, U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo Finance, The Weather Channel, Detroit Free Press, The Boston Globe and
Covers:  crime and court, long-form features, crime, local politics, local news, online journalism, clemson university, anderson sc, easley sc, south carolina
Doesn't Cover: nothing
Watchdog reporter @lsjnews, @usatodaynetwork in Lansing. Prior: @IndependentMail, @greenvillenews People. Faith. Civil forfeiture #TAKEN mellis@gannett.com

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Mike Ellis’s Biography

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I'm a reporter, a writer, a social media hound, a photojournalist and video producer.
I've won awards for my court and crime beat reporting but I also do features and anything that's a good story.
I really believe in the news business and I'm excited every day to tackle the changes.
I work for the Independent Mail, a daily Journal Media Group-owned newspaper in the Upstate of South Carolina.
I'm a Central Michigan University graduate, a tech geek, trivia buff, guitar dreamer and an Eagle Scout.…

Mike Ellis’s Journalist Portfolio

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Fire destroys Anderson apartment building

Fire destroys Anderson apartment building

Burns Windley heard a noise that sounded like someone pounding on the outside of his apartment building. "The…

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Walter Alley pleads guilty to killing 86-year-old Craytonville man

Walter Alley pleads guilty to killing 86-year-old Craytonville man

Wearing nothing but a T-shirt, 86-year-old Glenn Craft woke to the sight of burglars the night he was killed.…

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Petroglyphs uncover buried stories of prehistoric era

Petroglyphs uncover buried stories of prehistoric era

The pictures appear like magic. With the proper angle of a flashlight in the dark, images dug into rocks a th…

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A look inside Clemson University's carillon

A look inside Clemson University's carillon

A carillon player is to the piano what Animal the Muppet is to drums. There's a lot of over-the-head arm swin…

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After 71 happy years, 96-year-olds renew vows

After 71 happy years, 96-year-olds renew vows

Victor Rampey took his girlfriend Hazel Crowe out for a Sunday afternoon ride through the country when he ask…

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Business is picking up

Business is picking up

Gary Benjamin says there's nothing in his store that anyone needs. But for the guy who needs - or at least is…

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Articles

East Lansing declines to charge after Harper’s arrest

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By Mike Ellis Verified
| City Pulse Verified
The East Lansing City Attorney’s Office said in a statement Friday that it will not be pursuing charges against a 20-year-old who was arrested in August. The 20-year-old woman was arrested by four officers, whose body camera footage will be released as part of the end of the case against the woman, according to a statement from East Lansing. City Pulse is choosing to not identify the woman by her name because she is not facing charges.
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Lansing plans to sue Sycamore Apartment owners

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By Mike Ellis Verified
| City Pulse Verified
Lansing plans to take the owners of one of the city’s largest apartment complexes back to court to ask for a receiver to be returned after the property owners allegedly missed deadlines for improvements. Jodi Kamae (left) and DeEldra (who declined to give her last name) stand in front of Sycamore Townhomes in May 2025. The residents were among around 70 who were given a 30-day notice to evacuate or face eviction to make way for $15 million in repairs. Fifty still needed homes. May 2025 file photo.
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Long nightmare is over: Quality Dairy bakery is back tomorrow

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By Mike Ellis Verified
| City Pulse Verified
After being shut down for a week, Quality Dairy’s bakery is back and will be back starting with donuts and rolls on Thursday morning, according to a social media post by the Lansing area convenience store. Additional bakery items are expected on Friday. “A little sweetness is headed back to your neighborhood QD,” the company said, saying it is grateful for its customers and their support during the week-long shutdown. The company shut down bakery operations after a state food inspection around Oct.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Lots of jobs at a leading college paper. But post-college I worked at a capital political publication.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

A handful of times; I can change a ribbon. But my dad had the Internet in 1985 along with word processing so not so much typewriter.

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Always working to get it right, dig deeper and reach people better.

Awards

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South Carolina Press Association

2013 - Faith beat reporting

Category covers all papers in the state.

South Carolina Press Association

2012 - Short Story - Third Place
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South Carolina Press Association

2012 - Features - Third Place

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South Carolina Press Association

2011 - Series of Articles - Third Place

For circulation 20,000 to 50,000. An award shared with Liz Carey, Anna Mitchell, Kirk Brown, Ray Chandler, Jennifer Crossley-Howard and Nikie Mayo. For our newspaper's series on Civil War culture for the 150th anniversary of the defining conflict.

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South Carolina Press Association

2011 - Beat Reporting - Second Place

For circulation 20,000 to 50,000, open to all beats. My award was for crime and courts. The first place winner was my beat mate.

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South Carolina Press Association

2011 - Online News Project

A full-on coverage of a rare Southern snow storm. Shared with Nikie Mayo, Erin Gillespie, Ken Ruinard, Sefton Ipock, Kirk Brown, Nathan Gray, Liz Carey, Jennifer Crossley Howard.

South Carolina Press Association

2010 - Beat Reporting - First Place

My award was for county government. Judges comments: "It would be hard to find who tops Ellis in detailed knowledge of his beat."

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South Carolina Press Association

2010 - Spot News - First Place

For circulation 20,000 to 60,000. An award shared with contributors Ken Ruinard, Charmaine Smith-Miles and Nikie Mayo. Judges' comments: "Good story with spot news from the U.S. Army National Guard - a hard source to get immediate information from. Great team effort."

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South Carolina Press Association

2010 - Lifestyle Feature Writing - Third Place

For circulation 20,000 to 60,000.

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South Carolina Press Association

2009 - Integration of print and web
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