We live in an era where everyone is a journalist, AL.com columnist Roy S. Johnson said at Alabama Media Professionals’ Sept. 12 meeting, and, overall, he thinks that’s a good thing. “Everybody's got a phone,” Johnson said. “Everybody's got a device. And so the challenge is filtering through the noise, filtering through what's real and what’s just people spouting. So it's a challenging time and it’s is a great time. I look at it as a positive. There are no more secrets. Ima

Available for more freelance work. Based in the Birmingham area. A native of Birmingham, Loyd is an accomplished, award-winning writer, editor, marketing manager, and communications director with close to 25 years of experience. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to more than two dozen newspapers, magazines, and websites, including Upper90 Magazine, Tailgater Magazine, Birmingham, Good Grit, & B-Metro. Experience in health and wellness, he is now general manager of PMG