Matt Barnes of NBC4 Columbus shares the secrets to his career.

Spectrum

Journalist, reporter, and morning news co-anchor Matt Barnes has found his career sweet spot in Columbus, Ohio.

It also just happens to be his hometown.

After graduating from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and leaving his four years of work at WOUB Public Media, Barnes, in 2008, was convinced his life work would be in sports broadcasting.

He headed to his first professional job in Augusta, Georgia at WRDW-TV where he covered local sports and the Master’s golf tournament.

In 2010, Matt returned to WCMH4 in Columbus as a sports reporter and anchor, a position he relished for 6 years.

Then an opportunity presented itself to change his broadcast focus. In 2016, Matt gave up the sports microphone and instead jumped to be the morning co-anchor of NBC4 Today.

He has been there for the past six years. When asked about whether he wants to move to a bigger market, Barnes shared that he already has turned down some notable offers but for now, he loves broadcasting in Columbus, the city he loves.

Barnes has become highly involved in civic and charitable projects and in 2020 was named Ohio Big Brother of the Year.

Barnes shares with WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast some of the ups and downs of his career and what it’s like to be a young black male in today’s broadcast industry.