When The Beacon launched Kansas City Documenters late last year, the goal was to fill the gap in consistent, accessible information about what happens in public meetings, and to use Documenters’ notes to inform our reporting. Since then, our reporters have pursued a number of stories inspired by Documenters’ meeting notes. One recent example is […]
Chris Lester
Chris Lester is The Beacon's interim editor-in-chief. He previously served as managing editor at Kansas City PBS/Flatland. Lester was a reporter, columnist and editor at The Kansas City Star for nearly 24 years, ultimately serving as assistant managing editor-business. During his career at the newspaper, Lester was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist as co-writer of “Divided We Sprawl” and won the Gerald Loeb Award as co-writer of “Frank’s Town.” During his time as business editor, the Star twice earned the best in business section award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon wins 2 Kansas Press Association awards
The Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence recognized The Beacon’s work for local business and healthcare coverage.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon earns nine Missouri Press Association awards
The Beacon has received nine awards from the Missouri Press Association, recognizing the work of our dedicated journalists. Our nine awards — including two first-place honors, four second-place honors and three third-place honors — were earned by four of The Beacon’s reporters. Here are those award-winning stories: Thanks to the Missouri Press Association for recognizing […]
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Thomas White joins The Beacon to cover workforce and economic impact in Kansas City
The Beacon is excited to introduce Thomas White as our new workforce and economic impact reporter, a role that will deepen our coverage of the powerful forces shaping the lives of working people across the Kansas City region. White comes to The Beacon from The Community Voice, where his community-centered reporting on issues ranging from […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon and Kansas City media partners share open letter to Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Council
To the honorable Mayor Quinton Lucas and members of the Kansas City Council: Over the course of the last five years, we, members of the Kansas City media, have grown increasingly concerned about changes in our access to transparent and accurate information from City Hall. We were profoundly disappointed to see this shift confirmed over […]