Michael Freeman

Michael W. Freeman was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts. A graduate of Hampshire College and George Washington University, Michael got his start in journalism in 1988 when he began working as a reporter at a small weekly newspaper in the quaint town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, where all is quiet and serene. He spent 11 years as a reporter for an urban daily in Fall River, while also contributing commentary for local radio talk shows and teaching journalism at a nearby community college. In 2002, Michael followed the example of his sister and moved to Orlando, and spent the past seven years as the editor of The Reporter, a weekly newspaper in Central Florida founded in 2003 by The New York Times. In November 2008, Michael formed Freeline Productions as a vehicle to produce an original play he’d written, Hooked, which had its premiere at The Orlando International Fringe Festival in May 2009. The following year, Michael wrote and produced Copping a Craigie, which sold out four of its six performances at the Orlando Fringe Festival and attracted positive reviews. In October 2009, Michael expanded Freeline Productions to include an online magazine, Freeline Media, which covers Central Florida with news articles, opinion pieces and reviews. In January, Michael launched The Freeline Media Hour, an hour-long radio show on The Phoenix Network in downtown Orlando, which covers topical events locally and nationally.