About Living St. Louis

Bursting with energy and vitality, Living St. Louis  is designed to highlight the diverse people, places and cultures that make metropolitan St. Louis an interesting and thriving area. The series is broadcast on Channel 9 Mondays and Tuesdays and  at 7:00 p.m.

Each 30-minute Living St. Louis episode consists of  stories representing a wide range of topics from different areas in the region. Segments draw from subjects such as the arts; regional history; neighborhoods; local innovations in medicine, business and technology; people making a difference; non-profit institutions and education.

 Meet the Producers

PATRICK MURPHY

KETC Vice President of Production Patrick Murphy has been part of the St. Louis broadcast community for more than 30 years—airing on such radio stations as KWMU, KSLQ, KYKY, KGLD and KADI. Widely known as the “voice” of Channel 9 since 1981, Patrick has a rich background as a freelance on-camera and voice talent, as well as an independent producer.

Patrick’s most notable KETC productions include The Katy: Stories of the Trail, American Tower, Because of You, Monumental Reflections and five seasons of Living St. Louis. He has been honored for his outstanding work in television with four Emmys, two Auroras, numerous Tellys and is an honorary member of St. Louis chapter American Institute of Architects. 

After earning his B.A. from Washington University, Patrick spent a semester abroad at the University of Tuebingen in Germany. He then went on to earn his M.A. from Webster University where he worked as an adjunct professor of media. And for the past 10 years, he has served as emcee and moderator of the Maryville St. Louis Speakers’ Series at Powell Hall.

 

RUTH EZELL

In addition to producing award-winning stories for Living St. Louis, Ruth Ezell has also served as host for Channel 9 specials including No Sweet Home, Aging Out of Foster Care, Crisis in Education, Closing The Achievement Gap and the four-part series Remaking Missouri Medicine.

For the past five years, Ruth was known to radio audiences as a co-host of Total Information AM on KMOX. Over the course of her career, she has worked at several radio and television stations in the Midwest as a reporter, producer and anchor—most recently at St. Louis’ KSDK for 10 years before joining KETC. She is a four-time Mid-America Emmy award winner and a six-time winner of the Excellence in Communications Awards sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists.

Ruth studied liberal arts at Olivet College in Michigan and the University College of Washington University. When she’s not working on Channel 9 projects, Ruth enjoys live musical performances, theatre and reading—particularly novels and biographies.

 

ANNE-MARIE BERGER

As both a producer and director, Anne-Marie Berger has helped create some of KETC’s most popular programs, including the national cooking show Breaking Bread With Father Dominic, Stl Biz, Home Front St. Louis; and In the Loop. Her favorite Living St. Louis shows are ones that have the ability to inspire others such as Stray Rescue, Katherine Dunham and Rebuilding Together.

Anne-Marie began her career at WYES-TV, a PBS affiliate station in New Orleans. Since coming to KETC in 2000, she has received six regional Emmy awards, two Aurora Awards, one Telly, and two awards from the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists.

She currently serves as the Awards Chair for the Mid-America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMY) and teaches a communications class at the St. Louis Community College in Florissant Valley. Anne-Marie founded the James Patrick Giroir Fund, a fundraising organization committed to raising money for families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and is the former fundraising co-chair of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Junior Board.

A St. Louis native, she attended St. Joseph’s Academy and graduated with her B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Communications from Webster University and now resides in Maplewood.

 

JIM KIRCHHERR

For the past 17 years, Senior and Executive Producer of Living St. Louis Jim Kirchherr has played an integral role in producing award-winning shows and feature stories for Channel 9. 

After graduating from the University of Illinois with a Communications degree, Jim became a William Benton Fellow in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Chicago. From there, he began his career in radio before joining the KTVI news team in St. Louis. From 1987-1991, he was the Senior news editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich, Germany, and has been at KETC ever since.

Some of his proudest works include five successful seasons of Living St. Louis and the Decades series. His contributions at KETC have earned Jim dozens of honors and awards including 11 Midwest Emmy Awards, several Aurora and Telly Awards, including a Platinum “Best of Show,” and the 2007 Faherty History Award from the Historical Society of St. Louis County. He is also a member of the Board of governors for the Mid-America Chapter of the Emmys—having served two terms as president.

Jim has spent the past 30 years in the St. Louis community and resides in University City with his wife and two daughters. When he isn’t researching and reporting, you’ll find him tickling the ivories and cycling about town.