Progress reporter profiles: Melissa Miller

To be a good reporter, you have to have a natural curiosity about everything. That's me. I love learning about something different with every story I write, from casinos to quarries.

I cover business and community news at the Southeast Missourian. Over the past 10 years, I've worked as a reporter, photographer and editor in Missouri, Michigan and Indiana, and as the executive director of two not-for-profit organizations. I got my start at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where I spent a semester of journalism school in Jefferson City covering the state legislature. Through the years I've written about city and county government, education, health, travel and crime, but I like the business beat best.

When I left journalism for four years to work in public relations and marketing in Santa Claus, Ind., I dealt first hand with many of the topics I write about now as a business reporter.

Since joining The Missourian nearly a year ago, I've continued to use the social media practices I found success with in my marketing jobs. You'll find me posting updates as news happens at www.twitter.com/semissourianbiz. You'll find links to my stories on my facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MelissaMiller79. While I love the feel of a newspaper, the smell of the ink and the smudges it leaves on my fingertips, I know news today takes so many other forms. I embrace them and look forward to being a part of the future of journalism, whatever shape, size and medium it is delivered in.