Michelle Rogers, a veteran journalist and editor from Ventura, has joined the Camarillo Health Care District as its community outreach and education manager. 

Rogers, who has spent 30 years in journalism, is the former national manager of the Storytellers Project, a storytelling series presented by Gannett and the USA TODAY Network featuring everyday people sharing true, first-person stories on stages across the country, including in Ventura County, as a way to build empathy and create community connection.

Previously she served as consumer experience director at the Ventura County Star, where she was responsible for overseeing the Star’s digital operations, social media and community engagement strategy, and producing products and live events that elevated the Star’s journalism. 

“I am very pleased to welcome Michelle to our team," said Kara Ralston, chief executive officer of the Camarillo Health Care District. “Her broad base of experience will enhance the District’s connections with the community and provide new opportunities for the community to engage.” 

As community outreach and education manager, Rogers will be responsible for the District’s social media presence, maintaining its website and producing the District’s quarterly newsletter, Healthy Attitudes. She also will represent the District’s interests at community events, fairs and outreach activities. 

“Michelle will lead our social media presence, develop fun opportunities for the community to engage in healthy activities, and help guide the community to maximal health through participation, education and support,” Ralston said. 

The award-winning journalist started her career in Dexter, Michigan. Over the years, she has worked as an editor, managing editor and director of community engagement and editorial training for Digital First Media’s Michigan Group. In 2014, she moved to California for a job as content editor at the Redding Record Searchlight. She was promoted to her role at the Star in 2016. Both newspapers are part of the same parent company, Gannett and the USA TODAY Network.

Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Eastern Michigan University, and is a graduate of Gannett’s Emerging Leaders program and Leadership Redding in Northern California.

She taught digital media literacy to members of her community in Michigan through the Southeast Michigan Media Lab, which she founded as part of her work in Digital First Media’s ideaLab, and brought the concept to Redding, California, launching the 530 Media Project in 2015.