David “Scoop” Peery

What do you do? I am retired. I do participate in conservation groups, two canoe clubs, Democratic Party activities, church activities (Unitarian Universalist) and other civic groups. How did you get your job? My last (more than) full-time job was owner, editor and publisher of the Smithville (Mo.) Lake Herald, a weekly community newspaper just … Continued

Ron Osborne

There was little in Ron Osborne’s early years to suggest that he would become a full-time playwright. His family didn’t attend theatrical performances. Like many of his classmates, he participated as a cast member in a few high school productions. Osborne majored in advertising, and his first job was as a technical writer. But it … Continued

Diane O’Byrne

Preparation for a Career in Broadcast Journalism “You’ll work so hard at broadcast and you’ll be good, but you would be great in sales!” Not exactly the words broadcast news student Diane Campbell (O’Byrne) wanted to hear from her Missouri School of Journalism adviser and much-respected professor Dave Dugan. Little did O’Byrne know that Dugan … Continued

Larry E. Moore

Describe your TV station and what makes it interesting. Our station is a major ABC affiliate and most of the news that flows out of the Mid-West to the network comes through our facilities and personnel. For news, we consistently rank as the highest rated news viewership in the entire nation for ABC stations. Our … Continued

Toni Messina

What do you do? I have served as the public communications director for the City of Columbia (Mo.) since May 2006. I retired from Missouri state government after almost 30 years in all three branches. Prior to state government service, I worked for a non-profit council of governments and an insurance company. How did you … Continued

Mark Maassen

What do you do in your role as assistant executive director of the Missouri Press Association? The Missouri Press Association is a trade association of Missouri newspapers. We have about 270 member newspapers and represent these newspapers’ interests in Jefferson City during the state legislative session. Our job is to lobby for Sunshine Law, Freedom … Continued

Robert Lewis

Give us a summary of your career. I was hired by the Topeka (Kan.) State Journal upon graduation in 1951 to replace a reporter who had been called by the U.S. Navy to the Korean War. After I was on the job, his orders were revoked. So, I then found employment as a reporter/photographer for … Continued

Lillian Kuras

What do you do? I work at United Way 2-1-1 on the database. How did you get your job? I started on the overnight shift at United Way 2-1-1 as an information and referral specialist making social service referrals. What is the best professional lesson learned at the J-School? That great research is what backs … Continued

Art Holliday

Describe your television station and what makes it interesting. KSDK has been my professional home for more than 33 years. During much of that time, KSDK has been the top-rated station in St. Louis. Some of the station’s success is due to its history. KSDK was the first TV station in St. Louis, and the … Continued

Glenn Hensley

What do you do? I am the retired editor of Farm & Power Equipment for National Farm & Power Equipment Dealers Association. I also served as editor of Gateway Heritage quarterly journal for the State of Missouri Historical Society. I also wrote articles for Popular Mechanics. How did you get your job? A suggestion that I … Continued