Rowley's Word

The Short Bio

Melissa Jun Rowley is an award-winning journalist, on-air host, and content strategist with a passion for all things tied to social innovation. She is currently the founder and editor-in-chief of Incentivize, a digital media company focused on the convergence of capitalism and activism. A former producer for CNN and the Associated Press, Melissa has flown in zero gravity at NASA, produced business updates from the New York Stock Exchange, and field produced coverage of the Oscars, Golden Globes and Grammys. Her online work encompasses features for Mashable, Discovery News, Cisco’s Technology News Network, BlogHer and MTV Act. As a self-proclaimed “Cause Correspondent,” Melissa dedicates her passion for storytelling to spreading the good word about business, emerging technology, art, entertainment, and heroes benefitting humanity.

I am passionate about music, storytelling, people and progress. I believe the world is  on the cusp of changing for the better.  I believe in the power and beauty of humanity, in  spite of our propensity to sometimes wander in fear and complacency.  I believe new  opportunities and light are just over the horizon. I am proud to be a member of the  media, even though some coverage trends have made me  question the trajectory of my career.  I believe readers and viewers have intelligence and  depth. I believe they want to see news about innovators, good samaritans, miracle  makers and dreamers.  And I believe we can and should deliver it to them.  It’s our job. ~Melissa Jun Rowley

The Extended Bio

The day Melissa Jun Rowley was born and found on the police station steps in Seoul, Korea—she  was adventurous and larger than life. Just ask her parents; they expected a malnourished  orphan when they got her in Chicago at five months old, but she was anything but!

Melissa started performing at four years old in Bay City, MI. After 15 years studying dance  and voice, she won a Merit Scholarship to Ithaca College, where she initially planned to  major in voice.  Torn between her love for music and a desire to make television, she studied broadcast journalism instead. Four years later in NYC, she landed a job as on-air host and assistant producer for the world’s first Internet TV network Pseudo.com.  But music continued to pulse through her veins.  So she pounded the pavement and ending up making her Manhattan singing debut at Carnegie Hall, before securing a regular gig at the Theater District piano bar Don’t Tell Mama.

Melissa next found herself in San Francisco, where she worked in production for the cable TV network TechTV. Once again the stage called—from two very different musical genres. In addition to performing with the San Francisco Lyric Opera, Melissa sang back-up for a progressive hip-hop band. She enjoyed her time in the City by the Bay, but missed the energy of Manhattan. So she packed her bags and joined the team at CNN Business News. That’s when she realized she wanted it all—a career that combined both broadcasting and entertainment.  California beckoned for Melissa once again, and she made Los Angeles her home.

Now a seasoned freelance Entertainment TV Journalist, Melissa has covered  international film festivals, the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes, movie premieres, and press  junkets for CNN, AMC, Associated Press, E! Entertainment, and other outlets.  Her first  interview in LA featured President Barrack Obama in 2005, when he was still an upward-  bound Senator from Illinois.  The experience strengthened her hope sand ambitions for being  a storyteller, through the written word, television, music and film.

This time of change, inspired by the Obama Administration, led Melissa to focus her attention on social action and “cause reporting.”  Combining her video skills  and love for writing, she currently writes social good features for the top social media blog Mashable. She recently held post as the social media correspondent for the interactive series “What’s Trending.“

Outside of her media making endeavors, Melissa serves as a founding member of the women’s  philanthropic group The Leap Foundation, and is a mentor at the EmpowHER Institute, where she teaches entrepreneurial skills to young low and moderate-income females to reduce the drop out rate of high school students. She is also a passionate supporter of The Tiziano Project, a nonprofit group that provides citizens in conflict and post-conflict regions around the world with digital journalism training.

But her life isn’t all work and no play; you just may find her relaxing a local Los Angeles jazz  club watching her friends improvise onstage. No matter what adventure comes next, she’s  grateful they’re along for the ride.