Meet Your Patch Editor: Bryan Kirk of The Houston Area

You might recognize editor Bryan Kirk from his impressive coverage of Hurricane Harvey back in August, or maybe you look forward to reading his feature stories on locals in the Houston Area Patches. However, I bet you didn't know that Kirk, a Texas native, was once a military reporter or that he has learned a ton from the cool team at Patch.

So what does Kirk like to do when he's not covering everything from breaking news to the latest community events? Read on to learn more about Kirk and what makes his Patch towns special in this exclusive Patch one-one-one with the editor:

What neighborhood do you live in within your Patch Town?

I live closest to Houston and Spring (sprout) but live in Cypress.

What brought you to your Patch Town and how long have you been here?

I moved back to the Houston area in 2009, after being gone since 1990. I was a reporter in Temple, Texas, before that.

Describe an ideal weekend in your Patch Town.

The Patch towns I cover are diverse. Festivals in nearby Tomball bring visitors from Spring, Conroe, and the Woodlands. Concerts and family events are popular in Sugar Land and the surrounding communities. Holidays like July 4th and New Year's are great for fireworks everywhere. Parades for sports teams. Of course, festivals are popular year round here.

Describe your town in 3 words:

I cover multiple Patch towns— Sugar Land, Houston, Pasadena, Humble, and towns and communities in between. It's huge.

When you aren’t reporting, what do you like to do?

I love being in my yard or going to some of the nearby towns.

What’s your favorite beat to write about in Patch Town?

Features— I love people stories. Everyone has a story, even if they don't know it.

If you were a font, which one would you be?

I've never thought of it. Likely something bold and loud, though.

If you could meet any person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

Ben Franklin: I'd love to hear his firsthand accounts of the birth of our country.

What story are you most proud that you’ve written for Patch?

Hurricane Harvey Coverage

What’s the funniest or weirdest news story/event that you’ve covered?

Nothing weird— A few funny obituaries though.

What’s the best aspect of your town?

The diversity of the people. Houston and Harris County are among the most populous and diverse areas in the US. It's kinda cool.

What are you looking forward to most in 2018?

Not covering a hurricane. Harvey was brutal.

Whose articles do you most enjoy reading on the Patch?

We have a lot of talent in Patch.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Breathe. We forget to do that sometimes.

What makes your Patch Town special?

The geography and history

What’s something we haven’t asked you about that you want your readers to know?

Why I came to Patch? I heard about Patch on a Facebook group called "What's your plan B?" Tony Cantu in Austin mentioned Patch in that forum and that they were looking to fill a new Patch in Houston. I thought it sounded cool and different, especially since I was a newspaperman. So I applied when I saw the ad pop up and was hired by Dennis Robaugh (Editor-In-Chief, Patch.com) a few months later.

What have I learned the most being a part of this cool team? Tons. It seems Patch always has a new wrinkle or a new way of doing something, which is a challenge in a good way. As a newspaperman, I begged for training all the time on new stuff. I don't have to do that anymore!

Image Credit: Bryan Kirk