Brian Larsen
Brian Larsen has worked at the Cook
County News-Herald
on and off for most of his adult life. He can’t seem to stay away from the newspaper business and the News-Herald
is glad about that. In mid-March, he came back on board as the advertising manager.
Larsen began as a stringer for the News-Herald
while attending Cook County High School. Former owner, the late Dick Base, offered Larsen an editorial position several times, but Larsen chose to attend college first. In 1985, Larsen was back in Grand Marais with his wife, Jane Howard. He assumed editorial duties for two years, working with Ken and Phyllis Kettunen.
The Larsen-Howards left Grand Marais for a while, living in Wheaton, Illinois and the Twin Cities before they were once again drawn back to the North Shore in 1999. Larsen worked for LTV Mining for a year before taking a position as publisher of the News-Herald,
then under management of Murphy McGinnis Media. He oversaw production of the News-Herald
for three years before leaving to work as manager at Sven & Ole’s Pizza and most recently, Johnson’s Foods. Larsen is also co-owner of the Birch Terrace Lounge & Supper Club.
However, Larsen just can’t stay away from newspaper operations, so he was happy to accept the position of advertising director, replacing Andy Brostrom. The News-Herald
was sad to see Brostrom go, as was Larsen. “As a friend, former neighbor, and employer [at Birch Terrace], I was very sorry to see him go,” he said.
Larsen grinned and added, “However, his departure has allowed me to return to the paper where I have worked on and off since I was in ninth grade—almost 40 years of ink! I’ve missed it.”
Larsen’s primary role will be in ad sales, but he will also be called to duty as reporter and photographer. “It is a pleasure to return to the work I love most,” Larsen said.
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