Author: Mike Janssen
Mike has held the role of digital editor since 2014. Before becoming editor, he covered public radio and digital initiatives in public media for Current. Mike has also written for a variety of publications as a freelancer, was a Public Media Corps fellow, and has hosted talk and music shows on community radio stations in the Washington, D.C., area. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing banjo, cooking, and making coffee and cocktails.
‘Made Possible By…’ #14: The ‘madness and intuition’ of Fred Barzyk
"Be a storyteller," says Barzyk — and as you'll hear, he should know.By Mike JanssenFebruary 13, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #13: Public TV pioneer Alvin Perlmutter
"If you aren't in a position to make mistakes, then you're not going to come up with something worthwhile."By Mike JanssenFebruary 6, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #12: Sandra Rattley on an eclectic career
"I've had tremendous experiences, I've worked like a dog, so it's not like someone just granted these things to me."By Mike JanssenJanuary 30, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #11: ‘Sesame Street’ co-creator Lloyd Morrisett
In the late '60s, Morrisett and his collaborators on "Sesame Street" wanted to know: Could television teach?By Mike JanssenJanuary 23, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #10: WGBH producer Judith Vecchione
Vecchione says public media is "one of the last holdouts in an increasing commercialized world."By Mike JanssenJanuary 16, 2018‘Made Possible By’ #9: Minnesota Public Radio founder Bill Kling
The influential longtime leader in public broadcasting explains how he built MPR up from a small college station.By Mike JanssenJanuary 9, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #8: ‘Nova’ founder Michael Ambrosino
The early employee of Boston's WGBH looks back on his career with the science show.By Mike JanssenJanuary 2, 2018‘Made Possible By…’ #7: Hugo Morales of Radio Bilingüe
The founder of the Spanish-language radio network explains how he got into public broadcasting.By Mike JanssenDecember 19, 2017‘Made Possible By…’ #6: Jennifer Lawson on public television as a tool for equality
The longtime public broadcasting leader relates how she came to the field through the civil rights movement.By Mike JanssenDecember 12, 2017‘Made Possible By…’ #5: NPR founder Jack Mitchell
Mitchell was the first employee of NPR and the first producer of "All Things Considered."By Mike JanssenDecember 5, 2017‘Made Possible By…’ #4: NPR ‘Founding Mother’ Susan Stamberg
In an interview for our podcast, Stamberg reflects on her long career at the network.By Mike JanssenNovember 28, 2017‘Made Possible By…’ #3: Robert Hilliard on how public media enhances the public
“Fighting for public broadcasting is like fighting for equal rights and equal opportunity for everybody and anybody in this world,” says an ...By Mike JanssenNovember 21, 2017Employees tell NPR board of anger over harassment, demand change
The board also heard messages of support for CEO Jarl Mohn.By Mike JanssenNovember 16, 2017Citing demands of Oreskes follow-up, NPR board chair declines third term
"I am unable to devote the amount of time that the current situation ... demands of the NPR board chair to be ...By Mike JanssenNovember 15, 2017‘Made Possible By…’ #2: Ruth Seymour on KCRW’s days as a scrappy innovator
The station's former GM says public media's mission statement should be "To be important."By Mike JanssenNovember 14, 2017












