Michael Grant
CEO & Founder, Get Current Studio
How long have you been in creative/visual journalism, and how did you get your start?
Right now, I stand two years shy of two decades as a visual storyteller in journalism. I started at Grambling State University’s student newspaper, The Gramblinite. There, I tried my hand at every single staff roll. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I loved working on the visual side of journalism. On campus, I was known for always having a camera ready to shoot. I held it close because I wanted to design pages with strong visuals.
Strangely enough, my studio got its start during the pandemic. As conference programming evaporated, other programs were developed to help sustain local and legacy newsrooms. I was fresh off a Google News
Initiative Teaching Fellowship and had developed a number of connections that made it possible to transition to a full-time studio.
What gets (and keeps) your creative juices flowing?
There are so many interesting challenges to solve. In so many ways, the journalism craft is a vehicle for solving problems. After all, my friends and colleagues in newsrooms around the country are always asking important questions, breaking important news and holding power to account through reporting.
I still get to enjoy participating in editorial production as a partner in the process. Thinking of exciting ways to improve UX, tell a brand story, or even tell a good story easily activates my creativity.
But I also enjoy thinking creatively about other kinds of industry challenges. Whether addressing inefficiencies or introducing newsrooms to different approaches to their work. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to bring rich and diverse talent into small news organizations. I really enjoy the space to think about strategy in creative ways.
What advice do you have for young professionals starting out in the creative field?
Early in my career, the trajectory for news designers was pretty