Celebrating our newsroom covering Big Sky and Bozeman, and what local news means to us
EBS STAFF
Explore Big Sky is one of over a thousand local newsrooms across the U.S. participating in a new movement called Local News Day. April 9 is a national day of action celebrating the trusted local news and information that helps communities stay informed and connected. While national headlines dominate our feeds, it’s critical to remember that some of the most important news is close to home: the decisions affecting local government and schools, businesses working to thrive in our community and the events bringing neighbors together.
To celebrate Local News Day, EBS would like to introduce ourselves, the local team working to cover Big Sky and Bozeman, and highlight what local news means to us. We’d also like to remind you that local news works best when it’s part of the fabric of the community it serves—if you have a news tip or feedback for us, our doors and emails are always open at media@theoutlawpartners.com.
Thank you for your loyal readership,
The Explore Big Sky team
Meet the EBS team
Mira Brody, VP of Media
I’m Mira and I’ve been with Outlaw since June of 2020. I oversee all Outlaw publications, including EBS, Mountain Outlaw and Explore Yellowstone, and when I have time, enjoy diving into a writing project, usually revolving around history or the outdoors. When I’m not working, you can most likely find me in the mountains in my running shoes or relaxing post-run with my husband and 14-year-old cattle dog, Sierra.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee from the espresso maker, or hot off the camp stove right before a big adventure.
Ideal outing in Montana?
A morning peak bag, float on the Yellowstone River and lunch at Follow Yer Nose BBQ.
Favorite spot in southwest Montana?
I love the Hyalites and Gallatin Crest; it’s a really wild, remote landscape but still close enough to town for a day trip.
Why is local news important to you?
Local news connects us to our community. It keeps us focused on what’s important: the people and issues that affect us, and that we have a say in.
Fischer Genau, Digital Media Lead
I’m Fischer, and I joined Outlaw in 2024 as a summer intern for Explore Big Sky. After that (fateful) summer, I came on part-time as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type guy, shooting videos, taking photos, writing articles, and eventually writing feature stories for Mountain Outlaw and Explore Yellowstone magazines. In my spare time, I like to run, read, play drums in my band, or take a trip back to my beloved Michigan to jump in a Great Lake.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. From a Moka pot. With a pinch of brown sugar and a splash of oat milk. Over ice.
Ideal outing in Montana?
A long bike ride somewhere with no cars. Presence of migrating birds is always a plus.
Favorite spot in southwest Montana?
Fairy Lake was the first place I visited in the area, and it will forever have a special place in my heart.
A topic you nerd out on?
Books, specifically the collected works of George Saunders. I’d recommend anyone check out his collection of short stories called “Tenth of December” or his novel “Lincoln in the Bardo” if you’re up for a challenge.
What is one of your favorite news stories you’ve read by the Explore Big Sky team recently?
I loved Jen’s coverage of the powwow hosted by the American Indian Council at Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. I was there to take photos and videos, and I think she did a great job at capturing the spirit of the event and what it means to the people who attended it.
Jack Reaney, Senior Editor
I’m Jack Reaney, and I’m a multimedia journalist with nearly four years of experience covering Big Sky’s news through writing, photography and video. I’m originally from New Hampshire, where I learned to ski and developed my love for the mountains and the outdoors. After college at Denison University in Ohio, I was drawn to the West for the same reasons as everyone else—and my mind, body and spirit have thanked me for seeking the privilege to live in such a wonderful place. As a 406 transplant, I feel a strong responsibility to contribute to my new community, and I’m proud that I’m able to do that through my work with EBS and Mountain Outlaw.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Not even close. Herbal tea is pleasant before bed, but come on—coffee provides that spark, and there’s a reason our society loves hanging at coffee shops.
Ideal outing in Montana?
I don’t fish or kayak or raft or anything cool, but I love sitting next to a cold, relatively deep river and swimming in it on a hot summer day.
Favorite spot in southwest Montana?
For the sake of answering somewhere outside of Big Sky, I love the Missouri Headwaters State Park. It’s full of rich history.
A topic you nerd out on?
The sinusoidal relationship between the latitude of a location and the length of its days throughout the year. I’m always surprised when people don’t understand this—or worse, when they don’t care.
What inspires you to cover local news?
I am privileged to get paid to learn lots of information about the happenings in Big Sky, or witness newsworthy events, and I am inspired to pass that knowledge along to the community—especially when it informs or counters the local gossip.
Carli Johnson, Staff Writer
I’m Carli Johnson, and I’ve been working with Explore Big Sky as a multimedia journalist for a year and a half. After graduating from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, I found myself chasing powder and whitewater all the way to Montana. My undergraduate degree in journalism led me to search for a way to get involved in local news in my new community and I found that here, with Explore Big Sky. In my free time, you’ll find me on the trails skiing or running with my dog and floating downstream.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Black. No cream or sugar. No, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Ideal outing in Montana?
A summer paddle on the Gallatin! Or really any river. Raft or kayak, this girl loves an afternoon float in the summertime.
Favorite spot in southwest Montana?
I spent my first summers in Montana living in Gardiner and visiting Paradise Valley. Where else can you do a morning hike, an afternoon float and see live music all in one day? That, to me, is the perfect Montana summer day.
What does local news mean to you?
To me, local news is a door that has the opportunity to inspire conversation, community and change. To share other people’s stories and inform the public on important issues is a privilege that constantly inspires me to live with integrity.
Jen Clancey, Staff Writer
I’m Jen Clancey, a staff writer at Explore Big Sky and I’m originally from New Jersey. Technically, I got my start in journalism at my high school’s newspaper The Pirate’s Eye. But I fell in love with local news when I covered central Ohio with Denison University’s The Reporting Project for a couple years. I moved across the U.S. in 2023 and am coming up on three years at Explore Big Sky, still learning and finding different things to enjoy about reporting. I enjoy reading, dancing, traveling to towns new to me, writing and sitting by rivers and creeks.
Coffee or tea?
For whatever reason, I enjoy a hot coffee at all times of day—I’m a huge fan of an early evening brew. But I do dabble with chamomile, where you’ll typically find me with a book “lookin like the bear on the box,” (thank you SNL).
Ideal outing in Montana?
I like to grab a book at the library, a soccer ball, some rollerskates and head out to a river or park with my friends.
Favorite spot in southwest Montana?
I really love Missouri Headwaters State Park. I saw a plump marmot there last weekend, a beaver a few months ago, and the sky really is so big so you can see storms for miles. It’s a great park for train fans too.
A topic you nerd out on?
From time to time, I like to check in on datasets about a range of national or state topics and see if I can make sense of them. I also am fascinated by penguins and sea life.
What inspires you to report on local news?
I’m inspired to cover local news because of its ability to empower readers. I’m grateful that sources have trusted me with their stories. It’s a job that hinges on collaboration, and I’m inspired continually to present fair and thoughtful reporting alongside my team.
