Brian Kratzer

Brian Kratzer is a Professor and Director of Photography at the Columbia Missourian, part of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. He teaches courses in Photo and Visual Editing, Staff Photojournalism, and leads an advanced multimedia team producing documentary content for the Missourian's digital platforms.

His educational background includes a Master of Arts from the Missouri School of Journalism, where his thesis explored 15 families living on Missouri Century Farms, supported by the O.O. McIntyre grant. This deep engagement with rural Missouri themes continues in his co-produced rural youth documentary series with KBIA and the Missourian, which premiered at Ragtag Cinema and various Missouri towns.

Kratzer's research and creative work centers on visual storytelling, multimedia innovation, and rural narratives. He has pioneered projects involving virtual reality features and new forms of online photography, contributing to award-winning designs such as the Missourian's Olympic page. His interests span documentary video, war photography reception, and immersive journalism formats.

Though no formal list of publications is provided, his influence is evident through student achievements and collaborative media projects. His leadership has contributed to the Missourian earning international recognition, and he has mentored students who have won national awards, including Hearst championships and Missouri Press Association honors.

• Arthur “Punch” Sulzberger Award – for innovation and success in newsroom digital transformation
• O.O. McIntyre grant – supporting in-depth rural Missouri storytelling

Kratzer has advised and collaborated with numerous students through the Missouri School of Journalism, guiding award-winning multimedia projects and Hearst competition entries. He has also taught at the University of Florida and participated in the Missouri Photojournalism Workshop as faculty. His leadership roles include directing photography at the Gainesville Sun, where he helped transition the newsroom to a web-first model, coordinating coverage of national championship sports events.

He is actively involved with the Missouri Photo Workshop and has mentored emerging photojournalists through programs like CPOYi and POYi during his graduate studies. His work bridges academic instruction and professional practice, fostering innovation in visual journalism.