JBU grad Burchfiel joins H-L staff as reporter

The Siloam Springs Herald-Leader hired a new general assignment reporter this past week.

Recent John Brown University graduate Michael Burchfiel started working at the paper on Oct. 14.

Burchfiel, 23, graduated from JBU in May with a Communication degree.

"We're happy to have Michael Burchfiel join our news team here at the Herald-Leader," said managing editor Graham Thomas. "I was impressed with Michael's experience in journalism while attending JBU here in Siloam Springs. I think he will make an excellent addition to our staff."

During his time at JBU, Burchfiel was a founding member and eventual sports editor of the award-winning, student-led campus TV news program, "Eaglebreak."

He also helped lead the sports broadcasting club, gave play-by-play and color commentary for JBU's basketball games for two seasons and held a live, two-hour, online radio show weekly for a year.

Most recently, Burchfiel worked at the Christian radio station KLRC as a production assistant and intern, where he spent four years part time.

While at KLRC, Burchfiel helped manage the online radio station Mypositiveedge.com and assisted with audio and video production. He could also be heard over the air as a part of the KLRC weekend DJ team over the last three years.

Burchfiel is a native of Frisco, Texas, where he lived until traveling to Siloam Springs for college.

Burchfiel's journey into journalism also has an interesting side note. He left public school in third grade because of difficulty focusing in a classroom setting to continue his education at home. Until high school, Burchfiel did not enjoy speaking or writing, but five years of competitive speech and debate instilled in him a love of news and the desire and ability to broadcast.

Burchfiel has recently moved back to Siloam Springs, where his fiancée will join him after they are married in January. The two met on a trip to visit JBU in 2010. He also has a brother who attends JBU as an Engineering student, and another brother at home in Frisco with his parents.