Brian is the planning editor at 5 On Your Side in St. Louis, Missouri, and has nearly 20 years of experience working in news in his hometown.
A native of Black Jack, Missouri, Brian attended University of Missouri - Columbia where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English. Music has always been one of Brian’s passions, and for three years during college he hosted his own on-air music radio show on KCOU 88.1.
After graduation he worked various jobs for a few years and fit in some major life events, including moving back to St. Louis, getting married, buying a house and buying his first set of turntables. It was around this time that journalism piqued his interest, so he began taking classes at St. Louis Community College – Forest Park.
While taking classes at STLCC, Brian landed an internship at KSDK and discovered just how much he enjoyed the process of local news gathering. When his internship ended, he accepted a position as a part-time production assistant, eventually working his way up to become a full-time assignment editor.
Brian worked as an assignment editor until 2015, when he left the business to work in logistics. But that news hiatus didn’t last long. He returned in 2018 to the station he grew up watching as a digital desk producer, urgently and aggressively covering breaking news and developing stories. In July 2022 he was promoted to planning editor, focusing on short and long-term planning, making sure the station is prepared for major news events on broadcast and digital platforms
“The thrill of writing the first draft of history and helping others understand the world around them is what really excites me about working in news,” said Brian. “St. Louis is my hometown, and I enjoy celebrating its successes and advocating for a stronger city. I’m honored to help tell the stories of our community.”
In his free time, Brian moonlights as DJ Bace Monk, playing music at local music venues and parties.
If you have a story idea, you can contact Brian by email at bbyrne@ksdk.com or on Twitter.
