Democrat names new staff writer

By Sara McManamy-Johnson

Oct 09, 2012 4:30 pm

The Lebanon Democrat named Sara McManamy-Johnson its newest staff writer Thursday.

McManamy-Johnson will primarily report local police and court news.

“I’m thrilled to be joining The Lebanon Democrat’s news staff,” said McManamy-Johnson. “Lebanon has such a great blend of progress and traditional Southern charm. I can’t wait to get out and start meeting everyone.”

McManamy-Johnson, a native of Oak Ridge and longtime resident of Murfreesboro, is a 2006 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.

“Sara brings a blend of experience and enthusiasm to The Democrat that will lend itself well to reporting news in Wilson County,” said Jared Felkins, director of content for The Democrat. “We are excited to get her on board and have little doubt she will be quickly immersed in all that Lebanon and Wilson County have to offer.”

While at MTSU, McManamy-Johnson interned with former 6th District congressional representative Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., prior to earning her bachelor of science degree in print journalism.

Following graduation from MTSU, McManamy-Johnson moved to Alliance, Ohio, where she worked as a business and general assignment reporter for The Alliance Review.

In 2008, she returned to Murfreesboro and began working as a language editor at Boson Software in Nashville.

McManamy-Johnson eventually returned to journalism as a staff writer at The Advertiser News of Spring Hill, a weekly publication, where she also served as a staff writer for the associated monthly publications Franklin Life and Brentwood Life.

In 2009, McManamy-Johnson returned to MTSU to begin work on a master’s degree in mass communication. She has finished her coursework and is currently working on her thesis.

She lives in Murfreesboro with her husband, James Johnson, a marketing student at MTSU.