About John Brown
John Brown is a TV news anchor, author, inventor, public speaker, and radio talk show host. John is currently the evening news anchor at WOFL, FOX 35 in Orlando. He previously hosted the nationally syndicated show, The Daily Buzz, as well as Good Day Orlando and worked for several years as a news anchor and reporter at KTVI, Fox 2 in St. Louis, while also hosting a radio talk show, John Brown’s Mindset on KTRS.
He and his wife Teresa, have two children and live in Orlando.
Early Life
Brown was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, but lived in more than a dozen cities in Missouri before graduating from high school.1 John graduated in 1989 from Belle High School in Belle, Missouri where he was a standout athlete, making All-State honors several times and setting the school record for the mile with a time of 4:29.2
He attended Southwest Baptist University before transferring to East Central College in Union, Missouri where he played collegiate basketball. He graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Pre-Medical Studies in 1991.[3] Brown finished his degree at Central Methodist University in 1994, where he was on the basketball and golf teams.[4] His undergraduate cancer-related research, Detection of Mutagenic Capability of EMF’s Using The Ames Test, was published by the Missouri Academy of Science in 1994.[5]
Broadcast Career:
John began his broadcast career at WQAM in Miami, Florida in 1995. He began as a producer on the morning show, The First Team, with retired Miami Dolphin Tight End, Joe Rose. In 1999, he was named the morning show host at 95.3, 3WZ radio station (WZWW) in State College, Pennsylvania where the show was listed as the #1 Rated Morning Show in Central Pennsylvania.[6]
Later in 1999, he began working at KSPR TV in Springfield, Missouri. He was named the morning show anchor of a start-up newscast called The Morning Scoop.[7] In 2003, he was promoted to evening news anchor where he remained until 2004.[8]
After 5 years at KSPR, he landed the job as host of the nationally syndicated TV show, The Daily Buzz based in Orlando, Florida.[9] The nationally syndicated show was seen on 150 cities across the country at the time.[10]
In 2009, he became an anchor and reporter at KTVI TV, Fox 2 in St. Louis. It was during this time that he also hosted a talk radio show on KTRS called John Brown’s Mindset.
Brown returned to Orlando in 2009 to become morning anchor of Good Day Orlando where he and his co-anchor, Amy Kaufeldt, were named to several “Best Of Orlando” lists during their time together.
In 2016, he returned to KTVI in St. Louis as evening anchor and political correspondent in St. Louis at KTVI, Fox 2.[11][12]
He returned to Orlando in 2021 to anchor the evening news on Fox 35.
Invention:
John is the inventor of Bib Magnets, which hit the market in 2016. The magnetic race bib fastening systems are currently being sold in stores around the country.[13]
Books:
- 2009: Missouri Legends: Famous People From the Show Me State
- 2010: The Ultimate Missouri Trivia Book
- 2014: 100 Things to Do In Orlando Before You Die
- 2017: The Missouri Almanac, 2018-2019
- 2020: Missouri: An Illustrated Timeline
- 2021: 100 Things to Do In Missouri Before You Die
- 2021: Missouri 365
- 2021: Missouri Legends, Volume II
- 2023: Secret Orlando
Honors and Awards:
- Outstanding Young Alumni 2004, Central Methodist University (Editor, 2004)[14]
- Ozarks Legend 2004
- Best of Orlando 2012[15]
- Best of Orlando 2013[16]
- Best of Orlando 2015[17]
- Best of Orlando 2016[18]
- Emmy Nomination, You Decide, Election 2016, 2016[19]
- Best of the Ozarks, 2003[20]
- Best News Anchor, Missouri Broadcasters Association, 2020
- NATAS Emmy Award, Show Host, “50 Years of Disney Magic”, 2023
- NATAS Emmy Nomination, News Anchor, 2023
- Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists, Best Show, “John Brown in your Town”, 2023
Controversy:
Brown made national headlines in 2015 when he walked off the set rather than talk about the Kardashian family.[21][22] The video went viral, being seen millions of times across the world, even being mentioned by Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. His actions spurred the viral hashtag movement “It’s a Non Story” and “No Kardashians for A Week across the world.”[23][24] Fox Television assigned a public relations representative to handle all the media request related to his actions.[25]
References:
[1] Matt Schmitz (November 14, 2004). “Former Belle Resident Hosts ‘The Daily Buzz’ on Morning TV”. Jefferson City News Tribune
[2] (Staff, 1987) “Brown Finishes Second at State.” Belle Banner
[3] (Staff April 21, 2004) “CMC To Honor Five Alumni This Weekend”. The Fayette Advertiser (p. 1)
[4] Jay Golden (October 2005) “Celebrity Corner: John Brown”. Florida Golf Central Magazine.
[5] (Brown, 1994) Transactions, Missouri Academy of Science, p. 127 (1994)
[6] Arbitron Spring 1999 State College, PA Radio Market Report
[7] Mark Agnew (January, 2000) “Media Spotlight: Meet KSPR”. The Pulp (p. 14),
[8] (Staff September 10, 2001) “Anchor Changes”. Electronic Media (p. 41)
[9] Kevin Thompson (July 18, 2005) “Morning News with an Attitude”. The Palm Beach Post. (p. 1)
[10] Matt Schmitz (November 14, 2004). “Former Belle Resident Hosts ‘The Daily Buzz’ on Morning TV”. Jefferson City News Tribune
[11] Stephanie Tsoflias Siegel. (August 30, 2017) “St. Louis Station Expands Newscast”.
[12] (Staff June 7, 2016) “John Brown Returns to KTVI News”. TV News Check http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95345/john-brown-returns-to-ktvi-news
[13] www.bibmagnets.com
[14] (Staff April 21, 2004) “CMC To Honor Five Alumni This Weekend”. The Fayette Advertiser (p. 1)
[15] “Best of Orlando 2012”. Orlando Magazine. August 2012. http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/August-2012/Best-of-Orlando-2012/
[16] “Best of Orlando 2013”. Orlando Magazine. August 2013. http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/August-2013/Best-of-Orlando-2013/
[17] “Best of Orlando 2015” Orlando Magazine. August 2015. http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/August-2015/Best-of-Orlando-2015-Personalities/
[18] “Best of Orlando 2016”. Orlando Magazine. August 2016. http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/August-2016/Best-of-Orlando-People-Media-2016/
[19] NATAS Suncoast Chapter Emmy Awards. 2016 https://suncoastchapter.org/awards/emmy-awards/2016-emmy-awards/
[20] “Best of the Ozarks 2003”. (February 3, 2003) Springfield News Leader
[21] Christina Dugan. (August 10, 2015) “Florida News Anchor Walks Off Set During Live Broadcast: “I’ve Had Enough Kardashians.” People Magazine Online
[22] Stephanie Webber. (August 11, 2015) “Florida News Anchor John Brown Storms Off Set Over Kardashian Talk: “I’m Sick of This Family.” US Weekly
[23] Australian Associated Press. (August 10, 2015) “No Kardashians for a Week.” The Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-3193208/No-Kardashians-week.html
[24] Belle Banner, August 26, 2015
[25] Leanne Italie. (August 2015) “Are there signs of Kardashian Fatigue? Ask WOFL’s John Brown” Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/os-ap-kardashian-fatigue-wofl-john-brown-20150813-story.html
