Welcome to The Pulp

Erika Fredrickson was the Missoula Independent’s arts editor for a decade, helping cultivate the voice, perspective, and about-town sensibility that made the Indy a local institution. From the day it closed in 2018, she worked to bring independent journalism back to Missoula, while also freelancing, podcasting, music-making, and publishing a zine.

Before launching The Pulp, Matthew Frank spent several years as the associate director for regional journalism at the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana, where he edited Mountain West News and served as the digital editor for a regional public radio collaborative. While at UM he also taught as an adjunct professor in the Journalism School’s graduate program and for the Wild Rockies Field Institute. Before that he was the Missoula Independent’s senior staff writer and associate editor.

Rachel Gregg is an independent producer, community organizer and communications specialist. She served as the executive director of the Big Sky Film Institute for eight years, producing the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival annually from 2017 to 2024 and overseeing the institute’s slate of artist development programs. Rachel, who has a master’s in communication and environmental rhetoric from the University of Montana, was previously a public relations specialist with the Montana Film Office, managing the Big Sky Film Grant program. She’s served on many boards, including Destination Missoula, Friends of Montana PBS and the Montana Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council. More recently, she produced Montana Free Press’s inaugural journalism conference Free Press Fest, and she’s currently a programmer for The Redford Center’s “Films That Move” environmental web series. Rachel lives in Missoula with her husband, Brian, and their border collie, Maeve.

A Missoula native, Amelia spent 20 years in Oregon pursuing two bachelor’s degrees at Southern Oregon University and later a master’s degree in education at PSU in Portland. In the city, she devoted herself to bilingual education and dance for almost 15 years. When the opportunity arose to be the general manager at Rockin Rudy’s, Missoula’s hipster department store, she jumped on it and moved back home. Having grown up with Rockin Rudy’s in her family, she’s grateful to be part of preserving its legacy and future within the community. She’s committed to helping The Pulp become a vibrant part of the community, too, just as the Missoula Independent was for so many years.

Lacy Roberts is an award-winning journalist who primarily works in audio. She’s produced and edited talk shows and documentaries for the world’s biggest media outlets and brands, including NBC, CNN, TED, and The New York Times. For the past several years, she’s run a one-woman podcast consultancy out of her home base in Missoula, and in 2024 won a Peabody as part of the team that made “The Big Dig,” a documentary about Boston’s infamous infrastructure boondoggle. Her interest in journalism was in no small part borne of reading the Missoula Independent as a high schooler and college student waiting for her lunch orders or coffees in Missoula’s downtown institutions. She’s dedicated to helping The Pulp continue to grow and become the news source and community touchstone Missoula needs.

Chase Jones is a real estate professional with a deep love for the Missoula community that became home 24 years ago. His background has as many legs as Missoula’s Malfunction Junction, all bound by a heart of service, and building community through connection and care. Chase has a journalism degree from West Virginia University, has led trail crews in the wilds of western Montana and Idaho, directed the City of Missoula’s Conservation and Climate Action efforts for 14 years and now helps clients navigate Montana’s real estate scene. A lover of art, design and live music, you’ve likely seen (and danced with) Chase at local shows or found him digging through record store crates or thrift store racks for hidden treasures. He’s a proud dad of two teenage sons in a soccer-crazy family that’s always planning their next adventure, both near and abroad. Chase is a serial do-gooder and enthusiastically brings heart, humor, curiosity, authenticity and knowledge to The Pulp’s crucial mission.

Tara Shisler is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, e-commerce and hospitality marketing. She has led national campaigns for musicians, theater groups, and live events, promoting tours in 51 cities across 150 venues. As the co-owner of a marketing agency based in Missoula, she specializes in digital strategy, media buying, brand development, and multi-channel marketing solutions that drive engagement and revenue. She has worked with brands ranging from small businesses to large-scale entertainment productions, including managing media plans for a Las Vegas residency and overseeing strategic campaigns for national clients. She began her career at the Missoula Independent, the city’s beloved alt-weekly, where she managed event promotions, community branding and large-scale sponsorships. That early experience instilled in her a passion for independent journalism, making her a strong advocate for The Pulp and its mission to deliver local news to Missoula and western Montana.