Brad Kester — Journalist & Developer
I build tools that improve how content gets created.
Working at the intersection of journalism, automation and AI—building systems and tools that make newsrooms and workplaces more efficient.
Featured Work
Automation Systems
AI-powered tools and workflows for headline writing, page automation and content production efficiency.
View demos →Apps & Interactive Tools
Interactive applications exploring logic, feedback systems and user-driven experiences.
View demos →How This Site Was Built
A step-by-step guide showing how this portfolio was built and deployed using Next.js, GitHub and Vercel.
View guide →About
I started in small-town journalism, working as a news reporter in Junction City, Kansas, then moved into sports reporting in Columbus, Nebraska. From there, I stepped into larger roles — becoming a sports editor and eventually a managing editor in Ridgecrest, California.
My path shifted into production and design in Carson City, Nevada, then expanded further in Austin, Texas, where I led design teams responsible for multiple publications. I continued taking on broader operational roles in Killeen and Houston, working across copy editing, production systems and team management.
Along the way, I started noticing the same themes showing up everywhere — in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, CNBC and across our own Texas publications: automation, AI, and the future of work. That curiosity turned into focus. About five years ago, I began working directly with automation systems through Stibo, helping develop template and layout systems as part of Hearst’s early push into production automation.
From there, I wanted to understand AI more deeply, so I started building. I trained tools using a Hearst stylebook, grammar references and dictionaries to see how far I could push them in real editorial workflows. That experimentation turned into practical systems—GPT tools, automation workflows and the projects showcased on this site.
I’m entirely self-taught, and I tend to work across disciplines rather than within one lane — connecting ideas between journalism, technology and operations. That cross-pollination is what drives most of what I build: tools that are grounded in real workflows but shaped by experimentation, curiosity and the user experience.
Outside of work, I played college football and paint — two disciplines that continue to shape how I approach structure, creativity and problem-solving.