Roxane Salonen is North Dakota Professional Communicators' 2026 Communicator of Achievement. As a nationally published journalist, author, and speaker, Salonen has built a distinguished career over more than 30 years by championing First Amendment freedoms through thoughtful, faith‑centered writing that elevates religious dialogue in the public square.
Salonen’s lifelong devotion to storytelling was shaped early as the daughter of teachers on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeast Montana. On the windswept Plains, her imagination took root, nurtured by her father’s vivid bedtime stories. As a teenager, she found her calling in journalism, a path that would allow her to live and work in the world of stories she loved.
Her career began in Washington state, but five years later, with a newborn in tow, Salonen and her husband returned to North Dakota. There, in the Red River Valley, she built both a thriving career and a rich family life continuing to share meaningful stories, including her longstanding contributions of faith-based writing to the state’s largest daily newspaper.
Over a 35-year career, Salonen has distinguished herself as a versatile and impactful communicator — writing books and articles, hosting radio shows and podcasts, and engaging audiences as a speaker. She is the author of three children’s books and co-author of three adult spiritual titles, including the award-winning "What Would Monica Do?" and "Finding Flannery," a literary travel memoir. Through every medium, Salonen’s work reflects a commitment to storytelling that informs, inspires, and connects.
Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and NFPW who has distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession. Salonen will be NDPC’s nominee for the Communicator of Achievement award at the National Federation of Press Women conference September 24-26 in Ellicott City, Md.
