A Phoenix native, Michelle Ailport is a recent first-gen graduate pursuing a Master’s degree in mass communication as part of an accelerated program at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. With a creative eye and a knack for audience engagement, she’s passionate about turning passive media consumers into action-takers. Over the years, Michelle has interned at the Arizona Republic, Arizona PBS, the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, BLOOM365 and SPOT 127 Youth Media Center. After writing as a staff reporter for Downtown Devil, a student-run publication, she will serve as the arts and entertainment editor this coming academic year. During the spring semester, she worked as a digital producer for Cronkite News, where she wrote and produced her favorite piece of journalism to date: a story documenting the history of adult night roller skating in the Valley. When she’s not hunched over a computer editing a story, you can find Michelle roller skating, wandering around plant stores and sipping an occasional cup of chai. You can keep up with her and her reporting on Instagram @michelleailportreports or Twitter @michelleailport.