BU professor honored as journalism educator of the year by NABJ

By Katherine Landergan, Town Correspondent

The National Association of Black Journalists honored a BU professor on Saturday with its 2013 Journalism Educator of the Year award.

Michelle Johnson, an associate professor of practice in multimedia journalism at BU, was recognized along with other honorees at the NABJ’s 38th Annual Convention and Career Fair in Orlando, Florida. According to a statement from the NABJ, this is the largest gathering of minority journalists in the world.

"Michelle is an exceptional journalist, a gifted teacher, a natural mentor, and an innovative thinker. All of which make her a valued resource for students and faculty alike,” NABJ President Gregory Lee, Jr. said in the statement. "We are proud to honor her for her work in the classroom and for her continued work with NABJ Student Projects.”

Johnson worked at The Boston Globe in a number of roles including assistant political editor, senior night editor, copy desk supervisor, and assistant business editor. She also helped launch Boston.com.

In 1993, Johnson was one of 12 journalists chosen for the John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University.

She is also a member of the Boston Association of Black Journalists, the founding national board member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and co-founder of its New England chapter, and was previously an editor of the NABJ Journal.

"I appreciate being recognized for doing work that means so much to me. I’d like to thank NABJ, my home organization, for your support over the years, and in particular my colleagues and the students who rock the student newsroom every year,” Johnson said in the statement. "I’m so proud and honored to be a part of such a great team.”

Katherine Landergan can be reached at klandergan@globe.com. For campus news updates, follow her on Twitter @klandergan.

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