Mike Townsend

Executive Editor

Mike Townsend is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College of Journalism. He began his career as a reporter for two scrub weeklies, the Carroll Record and the Sykesville Herald, but reported for only a short time. He moved quickly into editing as editor, the Carroll County Times in Westminster, MD.; suburban editor, The Harford Sun, an edition of The (Baltimore) Sun; managing editor, the Rockford (IL) Register Star; executive editor, the Marin (CA) Independent Journal; and managing editor, The Des Moines Register. He is now executive editor of the Burlington Free Press in what he describes as picture-perfect Vermont where he walks to work every day and rides a Trek up to 100 miles on weekends.

[VT0401] - The Story of The Burlington Free Press; Michael Townsend, Executive Editor, Burlington Free Press. (2:01)

Michael Townsend, executive editor, tells the story of the James and Lois McClure family, who sold the newspaper to Gannett in 1971, but who remained active benefactors for Burlington, Vt.