Boyne Citizen

Meet Boyne Citizen editor and board

Jim Baumann has more than 50 years of journalism and newsletter publishing experience. He studied journalism at Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University, where he was editor of the daily student newspaper. He has won several awards for his papers, including the Best Editorial award from the Michigan Press Association for a piece he wrote for the Charlevoix County Press. Jim served as the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce executive director for eight years before he retired. He publishes a weekly newsletter for the Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce. He has lived in the area for 22 years. 

Annie Doyle is an award-winning journalist who has joined the Boyne Citizen as associate editor, helping expand coverage in Northern Michigan’s local news desert. She previously worked for Gannett’s USA TODAY Network, where she was news editor of the Charlevoix Courier and a regular contributor to the Petoskey News-Review, Gaylord Herald Times, Cheboygan Daily Tribune and Sault Ste. Marie Evening News. Her reporting on local government, small-town politics, rural crime and community life has also appeared in USA TODAY, the Detroit Free Press and numerous other Michigan outlets, earning multiple awards from the Michigan Press Association.

Board members

Hugh Conklin is the Boyne Citizen board president and treasurer. He is an experienced journalist, having formerly served as editor and publisher of The Citizen newspaper in Boyne City. He was also the executive director of the award-winning Boyne City Main Street program and served eight years as an elected member of the Boyne City City Commission, including two years as mayor.

Michelle Cortright is the Boyne Citizen board secretary. She is the former owner of Harbor House Publishers, which produced visitor guides for the Boyne Area Chamber and many other communities. Harbor House Publishers grew to 25 employees and celebrated its 50th anniversary before she sold the business in 2021. Michelle has always been active in the Boyne Community, including 20 years on the Main Street Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, Evangeline Township Board, Boyne Housing Solutions, Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Boyne Economic Development Corporation, Charlevoix State Bank Board and Boyne Arts Center Board.

Jamie Baumann has worked as a staff writer for both the Charlevoix County Press and the Petoskey News-Review. She has taught Business Communications at North Central Michigan College as an adjunct professor for the past 13 years. Jamie is a retired school principal with more than 27 years experience in education. Naturally, as a teacher, she was the newspaper and yearbook advisor.