McKenna Ryan Johnson

Journalist. Designer. Storyteller. 

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, and 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 23, 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. You may also find me serving up tea at Abigail's Tea Room at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, or working the box office at ArtsEmerson's Paramount Theatre. 

• Publicity Assistant at Dzanc Books, Inc. 
• Print Editor at Redivider Literary Magazine 
• Freelance
  • Since 2023

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

My inbox is always open. Contact me at:

mrj@drycreek.me

Top 20 finalist in 2022 Hearst Awards, profile writing category

2024 Sam Reynolds Editorial Writing Award 

• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
  • Public Relations Intern, 2025
• The Quarto Group, Book Publisher
  • Graphic Design Intern, 2025
• Montana Journalism Abroad, Bangladesh
  • Online Editor, 2024
• Mackinac Island Town Crier Newspaper
  • Reporting 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

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