Michelle Cole is an award-winning journalist and skilled researcher, writer and communications strategist. Based in Gallatin Public Affair’s Portland office, Michelle serves clients across the Northwest, providing high quality content for government relations, crisis communications and digital communications. Michelle also conducts media training and provides support for ballot measure and issue advocacy campaigns.
Before joining Gallatin, Michelle served as the Capitol bureau chief for The Oregonian, where she reported on the Oregon Legislature, state government and politics. In addition, she has extensive experience in covering health and social services, budget and taxes, the environment and natural resource policy.
While at The Oregonian, Michelle’s reporting led to public policy changes in Oregon’s child welfare system. She earned Oregon’s top award for investigative reporting – the Bruce Baer Award. Michelle has a Master’s of Journalism degree from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in British/American Literature from Scripps College.