Michael S. Greenly (born October 2, 1944) is an American writer, entrepreneur, and lyricist – and a former vice president of Avon Products—who helped to popularize interactive online journalism in the mid-1980s as a kind of forerunner to blogging.
In an article for The Futurist magazine (March–April, 1987), Greenly credited the Alvin Toffler book, The Third Wave, as being a catalyst in his decision to change his life and become an active part of the Information Age.
Greenly wrote a cover story for Portable 100/200 magazine (April, 1985) about using an early laptop computer to create this interactive, online journalism from the convention sites (Houston and San Francisco) and to answer reader questions and comments during the process.
Greenly went on to become the first journalist ever allowed to cover the Academy Awards ceremony by computer, again sending online reports of his interviews and experiences to readers around the world via laptop, and responding to them from on the road.
[4] In 1987, Greenly received an award from the Computer Press Association in the category of "Best On-Line Publication" for his interactive electronic coverage of Appleworld, Macworld Conference & Expo, and Comdex '87.