Michael Grant Changed Career Tracks—and Found Success
Michael Grant, Creative/Art Director at the San Francisco Business Times with his girlfriend, Manafoh Moiwa.
Michael Grant, Santa Monica College alum and current art director at the San Francisco Business Times, in Minneapolis.
Michael Grant at the San Francisco Business Times office; he is currently art/creative director at the paper.
Grant during a presentation at the San Francisco Chronicle, where he began his new career.
From an early age, knew he wanted a career in journalism. He chose Grambling State
University, a historically Black college in Louisiana, where he studied print journalism
and visual communication. He was selected for The New York Times Student Journalism
Institute, and completed internships at several major newspapers, including the
Baltimore Sun and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Yet despite his hard work, impressive
credentials and experience, finding a job was a challenge as he found himself entering
the job market just as layoffs and a major hiring freeze swept through the industry.
“They were all saying journalism is going to die,” recalls Grant, who decided to return
to school and learn Web design. “It seemed like that’s where the industry was heading.”
He left Grambling State just shy of graduation, enrolled at the Savannah College of
Art and Design for one quarter, but found it too expensive. So he decided to move
back to
and stay with his parents while figuring out his next move.
“My research led me to Santa Monica College,” says Grant, who enrolled in every course the college offered in Web design, while brushing up on his skills in Photoshop and Illustrator. “I really maxed out on the courses these instructors taught. I also took a fine arts course to beef up my approach to doing original visuals for editorial illustrations.”
He found SMC’s affordability appealing, but he was even more impressed by how supportive the faculty were of all students regardless of experience level. Many students were fresh out of high school. In comparison, “I had a high level of experience,” says Grant, “and they were able to meet me where I was with my career interests. Because of that, I was able to get a lot out of the program.”
“Santa Monica College has made an investment in being a place where you can use the
latest technology and gain marketable skills,” says Grant. “I was able to capitalize
on those resources.” He added that the audio and video equipment at the community
college—including machines for doing 3D work—was better than at his four-year school.
While studying at SMC, Grant continued freelancing and working on Web projects on
the side. One day, he received a call from the
San Francisco Chronicle, where he had previously applied, and was asked if he knew
Web design. “I said I studied it at a community college,” he says. “And that’s how
I became a Web developer.” After two years, he moved on to become senior digital designer
at the
Minneapolis Star Tribune. Then in February 2017, he garnered a management position
as creative director at the San Francisco Business Times.
“My first order of business is to make this a more visually appealing print publication,
and to look for digital opportunities to engage an audience beyond the traditional
market,” he says. “It’s really exciting.”
Grant also continues his longtime interest in mentoring new members of the minority
journalism community through such organizations as the National Association of Black
Journalists, which helped him as a young journalist. “It’s a way to give back while
keeping tabs on up-and-coming talent.”
To check out the 110+ degree and certificate options Santa Monica College offers in career-oriented programs—including web and graphic design courses like the ones Grant took—go to CTEviewbook
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