Alan Miller

Alan Miller’s dedication to journalism is deeply homegrown. Raised in Orrville, Ohio, by parents who were both in the field, he often accompanied his father on his assignments. By age five, he had a camera in hand, and by the time he could drive, he was pursuing stories of his own. This early immersion instilled not only a love of storytelling, but a respect for journalism as both a craft and a public service, especially in small communities, where the stories being told belong to people you know.

Miller earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Ohio University, laying the foundation for a career that would span four decades. In 1984, he joined the Columbus Dispatch as a reporter, covering regional news, then urban affairs, city government, and higher education. Over the years that followed, he advanced through editing roles, including assistant city editor, state editor, assistant managing editor, managing editor, and ultimately executive editor. From 2015 to 2022, he led the Columbus Dispatch as editor and served as regional editor for the USA Today Network Ohio, overseeing 21 newsrooms across the state. Throughout his distinguished career, Miller remained grounded in the belief that local news organizations serve as a vital connective force, providing communities with the information they need to navigate their daily lives and fostering a sense of shared understanding. 

His relationship with Denison began in 1999, when he applied to teach an introductory journalism course while living in Granville and serving as state editor. What started as a single class quickly grew into a long-term teaching engagement, as students responded enthusiastically to his practical, experience-driven approach. Over the next two decades, Miller balanced professional journalism with teaching, leading courses in reporting, ethics, and immersive, field-based projects. 

In January 2022, following his retirement from the Dispatch, Miller joined Denison full time as a professor of practice, stepping into the university’s expanding journalism program to help guide its development as a full major. He continued to work closely with students, teaching hands-on reporting and fostering a culture of credibility and accuracy, to prepare the next generation of journalists to uphold the highest standards of ethical and community-centered reporting. 

As he transitions to retirement, Miller looks forward to balancing continued community engagement with personal pursuits. He plans to continue doing local journalism, spend more time on his family’s farm in Ohio’s Amish country, and return to hands-on projects, including restoring vintage cars and motorcycles alongside his daughters. Whether through journalism, teaching, or crafsmanship, he carries forward a career defned by curiosity, service, and a lasting connection to the communities he has served.