While in Russia, Michelson covered breaking news as well as business, politics, and the military as a special news correspondent for RIA Novosti. Fluent in Japanese, she was initially based in Moscow, and later reported from Tokyo. As a journalist, she reported on stories such as the Kursk submarine disaster and the Beslan school siege. She also contributed to the independent newspaper, "Kommersant", and served as a freelance correspondent for the state TV channel, Vesti (Russia 24).