Matt Beckwith

Matt Beckwith has always wanted to pursue broadcast meteorology as a career. When he was a kid, he would stand in front of his computer screen and pretend to give the forecast for hours on end. Now, it feels like life has come full circle. Join him in the evenings for KOMU 8 News to … Continued

John Murphy

John Murphy joined the KOMU 8 News team after graduating from the University of Missouri – Missouri School of Journalism in May 2023. He co-anchors the weeknight 10 p.m. newscasts with Evie Allen and serves as a content creator and reporter for several KOMU 8 specials, including the Decision 2024 Election Report. Murphy graduated from … Continued

Taylor Freeman

Taylor Freeman came to Columbia in 2020 when she started her Master’s Degree at MU, and has grown to love this community that welcomed her with open arms.  She’s always loved storytelling. She got her undergraduate degree in Film & Media Production from Arizona State University. Being a filmmaker as her foundation, she likes to … Continued

Evie Allen

Evie B. Allen is an award-winning journalist who started her career in her home community in southern Illinois. Before making the move to Columbia, Missouri she worked as a morning show Anchor for the local ABC station, WSIL TV 3 in Carterville, IL. She spent 13 years, reporting, anchoring, and mentoring young journalists at WSIL. … Continued

Bill Smith

BILL SMITH is the Digital Operations Manager for KOMU 8, bringing his 20-plus years in the local media to the station’s efforts across multiple platforms. Bill works across the station departments to integrate new digital tools for newsgathering & storytelling as well as audience engagement & measurement and client marketing tools. He started his career … Continued

Trevor Harris 

Trevor Harris is a former KBIA announcer and producer. Trevor has — since 2019 — worked to preserve life stories through his business, The Recollection Agency. He also produces the Missouri history podcast Mo’ Curious.

Chris Vachon

Chris Vachon returned to IRE in 2023 serving as the conference manager overseeing the annual NICAR and IRE conferences. Prior to that, she worked at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP). Before RCFP, she was employed at IRE as the director of partnerships for almost four years. Prior to her first stint … Continued

Applications open for Method M Film Fund, with grants up to $100,000 for documentary projects from Murray Center graduates

By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Jan. 8, 2026) — The Murray Center for Documentary Journalism has launched the first-of-its-kind Method M Film Fund, which offers grants of as much as $100,000 to Murray Center alumni working in top-line roles on documentary film productions. Applications close on Jan. 21, and grant recipients will be announced in … Continued

Aaron Ladd

Aaron Ladd joins KOMU 8-TV as Sports Director beginning January 5, 2026.  A 2018 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Ladd brings a strong journalistic pedigree, major-market experience and engaging on-air style proven to connect with sports audiences and beyond.  Ladd returns to Columbia by way of his hometown Atlanta, Georgia, where … Continued