Rick Edlund is a communications consultant for Show-Me Opportunity, an organization associated with the Show-Me Institute. He left his hometown of Kansas City to become a sportswriter, attending Northwestern Universitys prestigious Medill School of Journalism. It was there that he found his niche in television news. In 2003, the award-winning broadcaster joined KPLR-TV News as anchor and managing editor. There, he franchised the Open Cases series of reports. Working with officials and investigators, he probed unsolved police cases with the goal of assisting in their completion. In his 20-plus years in the field, he has collected four Emmy Awards and other recognition as he rapidly advanced through larger markets as sportswriter, reporter, and then anchor. In St. Louis, he anchored and reported on the top-rated newscasts for KSDK-TV from 1985 to 1998, then anchored the 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. news on ABC 30 until 2001. Following that, Rick became a strategic adviser for political campaigns. He served as media spokesman and adviser to Missouri Congressman Jim Talent in the 2000 race for governor. He continued to advise candidates on strategy and how best to package and deliver their messages in debates, interviews, and commercials. During this time, he also advised companies on communications strategies and media relations, and served as presenter for industrial films and videos. Rick lives in West St. Louis County with his two children. He was actively involved in fundraising for AMC Cancer Research, the American Heart Association, and other charitable organizations.
