Elyse Schoenig is a multi-skilled journalist at 5 On Your Side in St. Louis, Missouri. She came to 5 On Your Side in June 2022 from KOMU in Columbia, Missouri.
Elyse is a native of Bloomington, Illinois, but says she’s long considered both Missouri and Illinois home. Growing up, her family often vacationed at Lake of the Ozarks, which helped aid her decision to earn her journalism degree from University of Missouri and made it a goal to work at 5 On Your Side in St. Louis.
“Time and time again I was drawn to stories told in St. Louis and specifically told by 5 On Your Side,” said Elyse. “To me, St. Louis was a career opportunity like no other, a food scene I would never grow tired of, a sports city I’d always backed (full disclosure: I’ve always been a Blues and Cardinals fan), and a place home to almost all of the most important people in life – and a short drive to the rest of them.”
Elyse realized when she was a child she wanted to be a journalist. Most of her family is in the medical field, but she realized she had a passion for telling other people’s stories.
“Getting to know their fears, interests, and curiosities really intrigued me,” said Elyse. “My family showed me what it meant to help others through the selflessness and dedication they showed in their careers every single day. Their example coupled with my passion to help others through sharing their stories led me with certainty to the realization I wanted to dedicate my life to journalism.”
In addition to conventional storytelling, Elyse is a certified drone pilot. She enjoys taking her journalism to new heights by using her drone background to bring unique angles and perspectives to local stories. She was also a competitive gymnast for 13 years. She attributes her gymnastics career for giving her a love for storytelling, performance, and reading an audience.
You can contact Elyse via email at eschoenig@ksdk.com, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
