A Magic Valley native, Jay Michaels was raised on a farm near Jerome.

Jay graduated from Jerome High School in 1980, and also attended Ron Bailie School of Broadcast in Spokane, Washington. Additionally, Jay holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration: Management from the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

Jay acquired his initial broadcasting experience in radio. Beginning in March 1982, he worked as a Weekend Announcer at KTFI-AM, KLIX-AM/KMTW-FM and KEEP-AM/KEZJ-FM in Twin Falls. From March 1985 to April 2000, he was the Programming Coordinator at KCIR-FM in Twin Falls.

In October 2000, Jay began working as a Part-Time Switcher at KDID-TV/KTWT-TV in Twin Falls.

He joined the KMVT-TV News Staff as a General Assignment Reporter in November 2000.

Jay's interests include music, reading, writing, science fiction, audio theatre (radio drama) and model rocketry. ("Centuri or Estes? Centuri, of course.")

He lives with his wife and two daughters in Twin Falls.