McKenna Ryan Johnson

Journalist. Designer. Storyteller. 

About Me

Currently based in Boston, I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin before moving to Boise, Idaho for high school and later Missoula, Montana to attend the University of Montana. I am currently a graduate student at Emerson College, earning my MA in Publishing and Writing.

I'm passionate about storytelling, a love finding new ways to tell stories. As a journalist, I specialize in arts and culture reporting, community journalism and magazine writing. As a designer, I have experience producing and editing news magazines, news websites and literary journals

At 22, my writing and design work has taken me all over the world, from creating Worldcrunch Magazine in Paris and learning about art and the climate crisis in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to meeting Santa in Great Falls, Montana. 

As a grad student, I continue to pitch freelance work in the journalism field while dipping my toes into the broader publishing world.

I spend my free time hiking, dancing, exploring and reading vampire novels.

Current projects and employment

  • Freelance
    • Since 2023

Education

Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts, 2024-2026

  • Master of Arts in Publishing and Writing 

University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 2020-2024

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
  • Bachelor of Arts in French
  • Minor in Dance 
  • Certificate in Global Leadership

Let's talk.

My inbox is always open. Contact me at:

mrj@drycreek.me

Awards

Top 20 finalist in 2022 Hearst Awards, profile writing category

2024 Sam Reynolds Editorial Writing Award 

Past projects and employment


  • Mackinac Island Town Crier Newspaper
    • Intern, 2023
  • Worldcrunch Newsite, Magazine 
    • Intern, 2022
  • The Oval Literary Magazine
    • Design and Layout Editor, 2022-2024
    • Nonficiton Board, 2022-2024
  • Native News Project  
    • Designer Editor, 2023-2024
    • Design Assistant, 2022
  • Byline Magazine
    • Editor-in-Chief, 2023
    • Art Director, 2022
  • Montana Kaimin Newspaper
    • Online Editor, 2024
    • Design Editor, 2022-2023
    • Designer, 2020-2022

Samples included in portfolio may not include all published or unpublished work in a category.

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