Laura Johnston

Laura Johnston is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Journalism Professions department at the Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri. She teaches writing and cross-platform editing and serves as a professor and senior news editor at the Columbia Missourian, where she also acts as Opinion Editor. She has been a key figure in the school’s educational and editorial operations for over 18 years.

Her educational background is fully rooted at the Missouri School of Journalism, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

• Bachelor of Journalism, Missouri School of Journalism
• Master of Journalism, Missouri School of Journalism

Laura Johnston's professional focus lies in journalism education, newsroom leadership, and student engagement in real-world reporting environments. Her work emphasizes writing instruction, editing across platforms, and opinion journalism. She is deeply committed to student success, mentoring, and pedagogical innovation, particularly through the use of academic support systems like MU Connect.

While no research publications are listed in the provided texts, her professional contributions are reflected in curriculum development, editorial leadership, and service to journalism education at both the high school and university levels, especially through initiatives like the Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop (MUJW).

Her excellence in teaching and service has been recognized with several honors:

• O.O. McIntyre Professorship for Teaching Excellence (2023)
• MU Connect Champions Award (2022)
• Reynolds Faculty Fellowship (2022)

Laura Johnston is actively engaged in advising and supporting students, both in the classroom and through extracurricular programs. She coordinates J-1300, the school’s introductory writing course, and plays a central role in the Columbia Missourian's newsroom operations. She also contributes to faculty governance and strategic planning. There is no mention of formal research grants, but her fellowships and awards support professional development and teaching innovation.

She is involved with the Columbia Missourian newsroom and the Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop (MUJW), where she mentors high school students interested in journalism. These programs serve as vital training grounds for aspiring journalists and reflect her commitment to expanding access to journalism education.