Member Spotlight: Michele Chan Santos

by Samantha Furry

Topping my list of favorite things in this world are people who are genuine and easy to talk to.  Michele Chan Santos proves to be one of those people.  This month, I was gifted with the chance to meet with and learn a bit about Michele and what makes her an intriguing and talented member of the journalism community and AWC Austin. 

AWC AUSTIN:  How long have you been a member of AWC Austin?
MCS:  I have been a member for six years.

AWC AUSTIN:  What do you use your membership for?
MCS:  Networking, gaining new skills and making new friends.

AWC AUSTIN:  How has AWC been useful for your profession?
MCS:  As a freelancer, it’s up to me to seek out professional training opportunities.  When you work for one company full-time, usually there are seminars and training classes as a part of the job.  When you own your own company, it’s especially important to keep your skills and knowledge current.  Attending Get Smart, listening to the speakers at our monthly lunches and going to Freelance Austin events are all ways I stay up-to-date with what is going on in the communications world.

AWC AUSTIN:  What roles have you served on AWC?
MCS:  I have been on the AWC board for two years.  I was Arrangements Co-Chair last year and I am the Publicity Chair this year.

AWC AUSTIN:  How did your career path unfold? 
MCS:  I worked for the associated press as an intern in Salt Lake City in 1992.  My first job was in Kansas at the Wichita Eagle, which is the big daily newspaper in Kansas.  I was a features reporter there for four years.  My husband and I were hired at the Austin American-Statesman in 1997.  He was hired in the sports department and I was hired in features.  Then after we started our family, I wanted a family-friendly schedule and being a full-time reporter is not very family-friendly, so I started freelancing 10 years ago.  It’s been really nice.  There have been a lot of different opportunities and it’s been flexible in terms of our family’s schedule.  But it’s also interesting; I can do different things for different people.  I didn’t plan to freelance for this long, but it’s worked out really well for us.

AWC AUSTIN:  What do you enjoy most about your job?
MCS:  I’m the sort of person who asks a lot of questions.  I like the reporting aspect the best because I meet many different people when I conduct interviews. Seeing what people do with their lives is interesting.  And it’s also fun to write!

AWC AUSTIN:  In your career, you have covered everything from real estate to religion.  Are you drawn to a particular topic to write about or do you enjoy running the gamut?
MCS:  I like writing about different things.  I think if you just do one thing for a long time it can get stale. It’s nice to have variation.  I enjoy writing about real estate because there is a story in every purchase and sell; it’s almost a lifestyle they’re looking for in the purchase process and at the same time, when they’re selling, it’s because their life is changing. 

AWC AUSTIN:  How do you feel blogging has affected online journalism and journalism, as a whole?
MCS:  In a way when everyone can blog it makes everyone a journalist.  For example, when the plane crashed into the office building in Northwest Austin, everyone there was a reporter.  They could take pictures and post comments.  There’s much more of an immediate sense to the news.  At the same time, you have to be careful what you read.  You can’t trust everything that is posted online.

AWC AUSTIN:  Many famous newspapers and publications shut their doors during the recession.  How is the journalism landscape changing to survive?
MCS:  I think we are trying to become more internet- and video-focused.  You can’t assume that when you write something that people are only reading it in the newspaper.  Sometimes more people are reading something because of a Facebook link than because it was in the paper.  We also have to try to figure out how to appeal to people using mobile devices.  I always ask myself, “how does that change how you write?”.  It means fewer 60-inch stories and more 14-inch stories.

AWC AUSTIN:  What’s your favorite lunch spot?
MCS:  Madam Mam’s on West Gate.  It’s really good Thai food!