Benjamin Bryant (broadcaster)

Bryant was born in Nuremberg, Germany to American parents in a military family. His father is Brigadier General Albert Bryant Jr. He is the grandson of Brigadier General Albert Bryant, Sr., recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and a former Montford Point Marine[1] and Army Brigadier General Richard Saxton. He is also the nephew of writer and speaker Lori Bryant-Woolridge.

Bryant graduated from Giessen American High School in Giessen, Germany in 1994, commencing study at the University of Texas at Austin, that same year.[2][3] At Texas, he studied journalism and communication studies from 1994-1998, when an extended illness led to medical withdrawal prior to graduation. Bryant completed a Bachelor of Science degree from New York’s Excelsior College.[4]

In 2015, Bryant graduated with a Master of Arts in Administration and a Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership, from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.[5]

In 1996, Bryant was serving as a radio news intern at Austin radio station KKMJ when the Atlanta Olympic Bombing occurred.[6] His impromptu overnight coverage gathered attention from the public and Austin American-Statesman columnist Jane Grieg, leading to a full-time role at KKMJ and named Program Director, with news and local programming responsibility, of its sister station, ABC Radio affiliate KJCE.[7][8]

Bryant worked as a freelance journalist[9] and columnist before focusing on public relations and crisis communications consulting for public and private sector clients. He served as writer and editor for the Deepwater News and FHP&R: Force Health Protection & Readiness magazine.[10] He returned to broadcasting as the host of the “BZCast” podcast in 2017, including an exploration of leaking and whistleblowing in the federal government,[11] and in 2018 with the launch of non-profit media platform BZ/MP and the debut of “The Brink with Benjamin Bryant,” a series of one-on-one interviews focusing on Washington D.C. notables, and its spin-off serialized investigative podcast, “The Brink with Benjamin Bryant: INTERSECTIONS”.[12] In 2018, Bryant also appeared in a non-partisan public service announcement entitled "The One Place Everyone is Equal."[13]

Bryant has served as a speechwriter for Rear Admiral Patrick Stillman of the United States Coast Guard, and communications advisor for James Finley, then-Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology and other military leaders during the George W. Bush administration. Bryant worked in increasingly senior roles within the Government, including work on the Pentagon’s Fort Hood Shooting Task Force, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Working Group, and the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, for which he served as the agency’s final spokesperson. In the 2010s, Bryant made multiple appearances on the nightly news program America Tonight, anchored by Joie Chen, speaking to military issues in the news,.[14][15][16]

Benjamin Bryant with actress Marion Akpan on the set of Anacostia in 2017

Bryant began producing narrative television and film projects in 2016, first joining the digital series Anacostia, from creator Anthony Anderson at the start of its fifth season, as a supervising producer.[19][20] Beginning with episode five, Bryant was named co-executive producer of the series, a role he continued in until September 2019.[20][21] He occasionally recurred on the series in the role of news anchor "James Vance," an homage to the late Washington D.C. news anchor Jim Vance.[20]

In 2019, his company, the Bryant Zamberlan Group, partnered with Gemelli Films and writer-director Candice Cain to produce the first three entries in the "Candy Cain" series of holiday films,[22] completing work on the holiday romances Ivy & Mistletoe, starring Cody Calafiore, Carrie Genzel, and Cynthia Gibb; Destination: Christmas, starring Calafiore, Clayton Snyder, and Abigail Hawk; and Painting Christmas, starring Calafiore, Genzel, Patrick Muldoon, Frank Whaley, Terri Garber, and Jennifer Bassey.[20] Bryant, who served as the supervising producer on the films, also makes cameo appearances in the films.[20] Bryant also served as an Associate Producer on Cain's Joy & Hope a western-themed romance co-starring Vivica A. Fox.

In September 2019, Bryant and travel writer Olivia Taylor announced on their respective social media platforms that they would co-host an upcoming travel show for the 2019-2020 season, titled "Journeys Beyond."[23][24][25]

In 2020, Bryant wrote and directed two films, the comedy Aidy Kane and the psychological drama, Station to Station. He also debuted in the series regular role of troubled businessman "Gregory Marshall" on the dramatic serial Forever and a Day.[26]

Since 2010, Bryant has served as the Managing Partner of the Bryant Zamberlan Group of companies, which include a global communications consultancy and BZ/MP, a non-profit news and media endeavor.[2]

Bryant won a 2020 Hermes Creative Award for the trailer for "Journeys Beyond."[2][34][35][36][37]

Other notable honors include a 2010 Platinum MarCom "Special Category" Award for his work as the Managing Editor of the report of the Fort Hood Task Force, 2012 Davey Award for his appearances on America Tonight, 2019 Communicator Award of Distinction for "The Brink with Benjamin Bryant" interview specials; and multiple Platinum AVA and Hermes Creative Awards for "The Brink with Benjamin Bryant: INTERSECTIONS" podcast (including honors for writing, hosting, and production).[2][35][36][37][34]

In December of 1996, a year-end feature dedicated to the people and stories who made the year notable, Bryant was named by the Austin American-Statesman as one of the year's "most memorable."[38]

Bryant lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.[2]

• Benjamin Bryant (II) at IMDb
• Patterson, Robert (1997-04-10). "Some Questions: Radio's Benjamin Bryant". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Media Group. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
• Herndon, John (1997-01-02). "Radio: Tough Work if You Can Get It". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Media Group. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
• Bryant Zamberlan Group*
• "Anacostia" showrunner shakes up season five". 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
• Lyon, Lacretia (2020-09-16). Benjamin Bryant, pt. 1 and (2020-09-23). Benjamin Bryant, pt. 2, BLEAV Podcast Network. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
• Hutchison, Casey (2018-02-06). "Daytime Indulgence Podcast #4: Ben Bryant". Daytime Indulgence. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
• Mack, Candice (2018-05-06). "Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Bassey and Benjamin Bryant of Anacostia". SoapParty 411. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
• BZ/MP DMV (2018-07-21). "A Right to the City Debuts". BZ/MP.
• Stone, Adam (2015-06-26). "Working Way Outside of Washington". Military Times. Retrieved 2016-05-23.