Melissa McCoy is a longtime journalist and educator who has held a wide variety of newsroom positions. She was a deputy managing editor of the Los Angeles Times, where she worked for 17 years, the T. Anthony Pollner distinguished professor of journalism at the University of Montana, visiting faculty at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies and the Maynard Institute, and a Poynter ethics fellow. She has also worked as a speechwriter and writing coach. McCoy is a founding member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and the American Copy Editors Society.

She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Ohio State University and a master’s degree (with distinction) in mass communication from California State University, Northridge.