Selected Work · Updated July 2026

Brian Frank

Editor, data journalist, product manager. I've spent nearly two decades distilling the news across a range of formats, including breaking news, election guides, newsletters, and data projects, mostly for public media in Los Angeles. Below is a short, curated set of clips.

duPont–Columbia Award · Edward R. Murrow Award · L.A. Press Club Award

Explanatory & Essays

KCET / Ballot Brief · Sept 2012

Smoke Me, Tax Me, King Me, or How to Make Sense of a California Recount

When Prop 29 went to a recount, I untangled the county-to-county checkers match for voters who'd never seen one — an example of explanatory journalism from a blog I helped launch.

LAist · Oct 2020

Our Heroes Got Us Into This Mess. We Have To Get Ourselves Out

A first-person essay for LAist's Race in LA series — a departure from daily news, and the most personal thing I've published.

KPCC · Sept 2016

Why You Probably Shouldn't Be Putting Premium Gas in Your Economy Car

Service journalism in its purest form: a clear answer, the evidence behind it, and money saved.

Elections & Breaking News

LAist · Mar 2024

Just 12,000 Votes Are Left To Count In LA County. Here's Where We Stand

Live results analysis for the 2024 primary, written in LAist's "Make It Make Sense" format. With Brianna Lee.

Data & Accountability

KPCC · Nov 2016

LADWP Overcharged Customers $67.5 Million, Audit Finds

Part of KPCC's accountability reporting on the LADWP billing scandal, this story brought an important update on the settlement figures customers were owed.

KPCC · Dec 2016

LA Grew Bigger, But Not Faster, Than Any Other County in California

This quick-turn story broke down Census data, helping readers distinguish between absolute and relative growth.