Bryan Polcyn shares his investigative journalism experiences

The MU School of Journalism teaches lessons that will last a lifetime, and investigative journalist Bryan Polcyn is proof of that.

Polcyn received his bachelor’s degree from the MU School of Journalism. After graduating, he went on to work in TV and radio in Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa. He is currently an investigative reporter at WITI-TV.

Before attending MU, Polcyn spent five years working in the radio industry covering Missouri politics, which gave him a lot of real-world understanding of the field of journalism.

“The path I chose got me experience that no one else had in the J-School,” Polcyn said. “By age 23, I was in J-School impressing the hell out of my professors, because I knew so much more than all the other students.”

Polcyn got his start in the radio industry. He wanted to be the next Jack Buck. He worked as a news reporter, disk jockey, and sports play-by-play announcer for KWIX-KRES Radio. He hoped to one day be a play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, but soon realized that it was a little farfetched. With this realization, Polcyn moved on to attend the MU School of Journalism.

“Radio taught me news reading and reporting. And I found I had a knack for it. Next thing you know, a friend suggested I go to the Mizzou J-School,” Polcyn said.

After attending MU, Polcyn went on to work at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. In the past, Polcyn has worked as a special projects reporter, crime beat reporter, news anchor and news reporter.

While attending MU, Polcyn was the only college journalist to win 1st place in both the radio and TV categories of the William Randolph Hearst National Journalism Competition.

Polcyn has also been nominated for 16 Regional Emmy Awards and has won four times. He has won numerous awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, The Associated Press, Kansas City Press Club and Iowa Broadcast News Association.

“I have shelves full of awards and, don't get me wrong, they're nice. Everyone likes knowing their peers think they do good work. But this job isn't about awards or popularity or celebrity,” Polcyn said.

Though he has won many awards, Polcyn said that his proudest accomplishment is that he has been able to stay in the field of journalism for 19 years now.

“One by one, people leave for more stable, predictable careers. But I found my way. I love what I do and I love where I'm doing it. I have one of the best jobs in journalism,” Polcyn said.

Though Polcyn said he loves his job as an investigative reporter, he noted that the field of journalism has its challenges, which filter out a lot of people in the industry.

“This business can be brutal. The pay is awful in the beginning. You have to move around a lot. You leave a lot of friends behind. You have to start over again and again,” Polcyn said.

Polcyn also said that not many people can do the job of investigative reporting. He said that it is necessary to have a willingness to learn new things all of the time.

“This career forces you to become a sudden, mini-expert on an incredible array of topics, from politics to criminal justice to how a FAZNI-5000 cookie machine works,” Polcyn said.

Polcyn’s work influenced his local community, which he said he finds to be one of the most important parts of working in investigative journalism. Polcyn explained that holding people accountable is a key component of the work he does as an investigative reporter.

Recently in his work as an investigative journalist, Polcyn has exposed the questionable tactics of a matchmaking service, a sex abuse cover-up and a phony fundraiser for injured veterans. With all of his successful stories, Polcyn couldn’t pick just one story to be his favorite.

“I've had three investigations that led to changes in state law or local ordinances just this year! I've gotten people's money back. I've run con artists out of business,” Polcyn said.

Though this work is rewarding, Polcyn said it is a rough road to try and get the job done. Polcyn explained that he has to deal with people who don’t want to work with him in order to get the truth across to his audience.

“You're trying to shine light on things that some people don't want to be seen. You spend a lot of time working against the grain,” Polcyn said. “It can be grueling and exhausting and frustrating. The hours can be long and the pay doesn't go up by the hour.”

One of the things that Polcyn said he loves most about his job is the long-form reporting that he is able to do with his investigative stories. There aren't a tremendous number of reporters who are able to do this, compared to general assignment reporters, multimedia journalists, producers and photographers.

“I sometimes write 6-minute stories. Really! That's a rarity in television news. I'm lucky to work where I do, because they value this kind of reporting,” Polcyn said.

Polcyn said that the lessons he learned at MU still stick with him today in his investigative reporting.

“Never be afraid to look stupid. Ask questions, a million of them. Learn how the world works. Read, read, read, and never stop being curious,” Polcyn said.

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