Brianna Q. Lockwood still remembers the precise moment journalism stopped being a career choice and became something closer to a calling. It was 2013, her second year at the San Antonio Express-News, and she’d spent three months tracking down documents and sources for a story about mismanaged public housing funds in Bexar County. When that piece ran—and prompted a state audit—she understood what local reporting could actually do.
She joined newsofaustin.com in 2018 after a brief stint at KVUE-TV, where she covered the Texas Legislature and developed an appreciation for the particular chaos of a biennial session. These days, she focuses on housing, development, and the ongoing tension between Austin’s growth and its affordability. Her 2022 investigation into short-term rental loopholes in East Austin led to revised enforcement policies and earned her a Texas Press Association Award for Public Service Journalism.
What She Covers
Brianna writes about the forces reshaping Austin’s neighborhoods—from zoning battles and bond elections to the human stories behind displacement and development. She’s particularly interested in following the money: who’s buying, who’s building, and who benefits. Recent work has included a deep examination of the Domain’s expansion, the Govalle-Johnston Terrace redevelopment debate, and ongoing coverage of Project Connect’s implementation.
Background & Austin Roots
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism, Brianna first came to the city for college and never quite managed to leave—a trajectory she shares with about half the people she interviews. She completed an Investigative Reporters and Editors data journalism fellowship in 2020, which she credits with making her significantly more dangerous with spreadsheets.
When she’s not chasing permits records or sitting through Planning Commission meetings, Brianna can usually be found at Barton Springs (6 a.m., before the crowds) or exploring new taco spots with her husband, who teaches history at Austin Community College. She lives in the Crestview neighborhood with two increasingly opinionated cats.
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