Michael Rogers is the Vice Chairman and a partner in Raw Story Media, publisher of the online news site RawStory.com. Additionally, he is Vice Chairman and partner of Alternet Media, publishers of Alternet.org and TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com. He is co-host of The Raw Story Podcast with Mike Rogers & Shannyn Moore.
Michael has over 15 years of experience in the online news publishing business. Beginning in 2004, he published BlogActive.com, a controversial blog which focused on exposing the hypocrisy of anti-gay politicians and senior political staff who were themselves in the closet. "No community should be required to harbor its own enemies from within," he stated when he began his effort. The paper called him "the most feared man on Capitol Hill." Michael is the lead subject of the HBO/Magnolia Films documentary Outrage, by Academy-Award nominated director Kirby Dick. The film was inspired by and focuses on Michael's work at BlogActive.
In 2005, Michael joined the staff of Raw Story and in 2009 joined John Byrne as a partner in Raw Story Media. Subsequently, they acquired Alternet and The New Civil Rights Movement websites.
Prior to his work in online media, Michael was a senior fundraising professional. His work includes serving as Greenpeace's Senior Director of Major Gifts, Director of Development at the National LGBTQ Task Force. Michael was a Donor Program Officer at The Funding Exchange and the first fundraiser for the Harvey Milk School in New York City.
In 2008, Michael founded the non profit, Netroots Connect. Netroots Connect manages programs that bring online and offline leaders to create change. The organization works with leaders, organizational staff, activists, journalists, and allies. The work is across progressive issues and is coordinated with Netroots Nation.
Michael was born and raised in Rockland County, New York, a suburb of New York City. He attended Adelphi University, where he studied business administration, and the University of Buffalo, where he studied political science.
Michael has served as a guest host on SiriusXM Radio and The Ed Schultz Show. A sample of Michael's media coverage and television appearances may be found here.
