Michael James

Michael James is a senior editor at USA TODAY with over 40 years of expertise handling breaking news, politics, religion, crime, weather, legal affairs, Congress and the White House. An energetic and enthusiastic journalist who never tires of covering important stories, he was a Pulitzer finalist for leading the coverage of the 2002 Washington, D.C. sniper assaults and has been a reporter or newsroom boss on every major terrorist attack for the last four decades. He ran USA TODAY's award-winning Homeland Security coverage following the September 11 attacks, handling issues relating to safety in airports and airplanes. He maintains broad knowledge of crime, terrorism, capital punishment, homeland security and travel safety.

A veteran leader who has covered every U.S. presidential election since 1984, Michael's wisdom in journalism is only superseded by his high energy and tireless pursuit of the truth - and teaching others to do the same. He is an expert researcher of court records at both the state and federal levels, having covered US and Maryland courts for over a decade. In recent years he has been an editor on U.S. Supreme Court issues as well. He also handles many human interest stories from around the nation, including feature pieces on the Pope, bald eagles and heartwarming tales of Christmas, Halloween and good Samaritans.