Brian Calfano

Background

About Brian Calfano

With a passion for journalism, academia, and storytelling, I’ve spent my career bridging media, education, and documentary filmmaking. From anchoring political coverage to directing award-winning documentaries, my work explores the evolving landscape of news and politics. As a professor and author, I’m committed to shaping future media professionals and fostering informed public discourse. I have been an anchor, political analyst, and show host for KSNT 27 News (Nexstar), Spectrum News 1 Ohio, and KOLR10. I produced and anchored "Show Me Missouri,""Ozarks Tonight," and the 16-part series "Our Constitution Made Easy." I also hosted "Morningline" on News Talk 560AM KWTO for seven years, conducting high-profile political interviews. As a media panelist, I have participated in congressional debates and provided expert political analysis. My reporting has earned multiple accolades, including an Emmy nomination for Societal Concerns reporting and awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and Missouri Broadcasters Association. My documentary, Al Primo & His Eyewitness Revolution, explores the transformation of television news and has won awards such as the Golden Nugget International Film Festival’s Best Documentary and the Platinum Award at the Mindfield Film Festival. The documentary is being distributed to PBS stations across the U.S. As a scholar-in-residence at Latakoo, a video management solutions company serving NBC Universal and Nexstar, I bridge academia and industry. I have taught full time at the University of Cincinnati, Missouri State University, California State University, and Texas A&M. As Chair of UC’s Journalism Department, I launched a TV news studio and a student-run cable news operation. I have authored multiple books and peer-reviewed articles on media effects, politics, and government policy. My works include US Political Reporting (Routledge) and forthcoming titles such as TV Politics (Peter Lang) and Rethinking & Saving Local TV News (Palgrave Macmillan). I am a frequent speaker at academic conferences and industry panels worldwide. A New Jersey native and University of North Texas alumnus, I am an ordained deacon with the Presbyterian Church (USA). I support the ASPCA and Doctors Without Borders and am a member of SPJ, RTDNA, and BEA. With expertise spanning journalism, academia, and documentary filmmaking, I continue to shape discussions on political reporting and media innovation.