Gov names Michael McNutt to press position

Michael McNutt

Governor Mary Fallin today announced that Michael McNutt, a longtime capitol reporter with The Oklahoman, will be joining her staff as press secretary. McNutt begins September 6, joining a press team that includes Communications Director Alex Weintz and Deputy Press Secretary Alex Gerszewski.

McNutt has worked nearly 30 years for The Oklahoman, including eight years at the paper’s Capitol Bureau. During that time he covered the office of the governor, the House of Representatives, various state agencies and a number of political campaigns.

Before joining the Capitol Bureau, he served as The Oklahoman’s assistant news editor and assistant city editor. He has also worked in the newspaper’s Enid bureau and for newspapers in Enid, Oklahoma, and Rolla, Missouri.

Fallin said that McNutt’s experience, depth of knowledge and passion for communicating information will serve him well on her staff.

“Michael has spent the last thirty years making sure Oklahomans are informed about their government and their elected officials,” said Fallin. “He is a tenacious reporter who knows the ins and outs of government and he’s passionate about getting that information to the public. As press secretary, he’ll help to keep the press and public informed about what my office is doing and why. I’m looking forward to him lending his experience and expertise to my staff.”

McNutt was named to the Washington Post’s 2013 list of the best state-based political reporters based on nominations from blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

He is chairman of St. Joseph Old Cathedral’s pastoral council in Oklahoma City, where he also teaches religion classes to children in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. He previously served as chairman of the parish council at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Enid and president of the Enid Camp Fire Boys and Girls council.

McNutt is a St. Louis native who graduated from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Before going to work at newspapers, he worked as news director for a radio station in Salem, Mo., and as a news reporter and producer for a station in Rolla, Mo.

He and his wife Kathryn live in Edmond.