Mike Janssen, a journalist who has reported for Current for nearly 15 years, has returned to the staff full-time as digital editor.
Janssen’s hiring, which took effect April 1, expands Current’s editorial team and supports an expansion of coverage on Current.org, the website covering U.S. public media and nonprofit news organizations. Current, its sister newspaper, will continue to provide in-depth news coverage and analysis of the field, with a shift in emphasis to enterprise reporting.
Janssen
“Mike is uniquely qualified to help lead Current’s digital expansion,” said Karen Everhart, managing editor. “He sets high standards for reporting and narrative journalism; he knows public radio inside and out; and his leadership in using digital platforms to provide timely, original news coverage on Current.org and via social media has enhanced the value of our news service over many years.”
“I’m excited to be back on board with Current full-time and to have the chance to take our web coverage to the next level,” Janssen said. “We have an expanded role to play for our readers as they take on the many challenges and opportunities presented by digital media.”
Janssen began reporting for Current in 1999, when he joined the staff as associate editor covering public radio. Under Current Founding Editor Steve Behrens, Janssen launched a blog on Current.org, providing a platform for curated news and timely digital coverage of public media. Working as a freelance associate editor under Everhart over the past two years, Janssen took over management of Current’s Twitter feed, helping to build its readership from the hundreds to more than 3,300 followers.
During his 2007-2014 stint as a freelance journalist, Janssen pursued other work in public media. In 2007 he worked with the Future of Music Coalition, helping nonprofit arts organizations apply for noncommercial FM stations. As a Fellow with the Public Media Corps from 2010-11, he organized community events and co-produced a talk show for Washington, D.C., teens.
In addition to Current, his work was published by National Real Estate Investor, the Future of Music Coalition, Mediabistro, In These Times, the LA Weekly and Scholastic Publications. Janssen also hosted a show of eclectic music on Washington’s WPFW, a Pacifica station, and contributed to Scanning the Dial, a blog about classical music broadcasting. He plays banjo in the Washington, D.C., band The Boundary Stones.
Current, a nonprofit journalism center within American University’s School of Communication, is funded by advertising and subscription revenues, and receives additional financial support through a grant from the Wyncote Foundation of Philadelphia.