About The Publisher
I'm Ryan Belmore, founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. I live in Alexandria and bring fifteen years of experience as a local independent online news publisher, editor, and journalist to the city I call home
I moved here in 2021 with my wife, Jen. Since then, I've served on the city's Commission for the Arts and Board of Zoning Appeals, and now serve as a media representative on the Local Emergency Planning Committee. I contributed a column to ALXnow for two years before serving as its publisher from March to October 2025. I launched The Alexandria Brief in November 2025.
This is my home. You are my neighbors. The decisions I cover affect me too — I'm a taxpayer and resident, just like you.
I've spent nearly 15 years in local independent journalism. In 2012, I took over as Owner and Publisher of What's Up Newp in Newport, Rhode Island, and grew it into a publication recognized as Rhode Island Monthly's Best Local News Blog for three consecutive years.
I was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. I’ve been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism. I’ve worked with major technology companies and journalism foundations, and I continue to coach and mentor new publications.
In Newport, I also hosted a daily radio talk show for four years and have since worked as a Senior Editor at Mountain News, which published OnTheSnow. Before all of this news business, I spent several years working in administration/management with the New England Patriots and several years as a volunteer firefighter/first responder in Rhode Island.
I didn't come to journalism through a traditional path. I experienced foster care and homelessness as a kid and was adopted as a teenager. That shapes how I think about community — who gets noticed, who gets heard, and what it means to show up for your neighbors.
Contact information:
- Email: ryan@alexandriabrief.com
- Phone: 703-283-0790
- Signal: RyanBelmore.703
- Mail: 2308 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Suite 245, Alexandria, VA 22301
What makes The Alexandria Brief different
Original reporting
Deep dives and analysis — not just what happened, but why it matters and what it means for Alexandria. Solutions-oriented journalism that makes you smarter about your community.
By a neighbor, for neighbors
I live in Alexandria, cover the city I call home, and focus on what matters here. The Alexandria Brief is a member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Del Ray Business Association.
Community-powered
100% funded by community members — no advertising, no conflicts of interest, no corporate ownership. Just independent journalism, answerable to neighbors.
Free for all
All content is free for everyone. No paywall. Local news should be accessible to every Alexandria resident, whether you can pay or not.
My Vision & Values
To deliver independent journalism that makes Alexandria residents smarter about their community. I focus on accountability, deep dives, and the stories that affect your daily life — not what gets pageviews.
I'm committed to accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency — the ethical standards of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. I will correct all known errors and clearly mark any sponsored content.
Artificial Intelligence
As a one-person newsroom, I use artificial intelligence tools to fill some of the structural roles a larger publication would staff with copy editors and second readers. AI assists with tasks like transcribing interviews, research organization, idea development, spell check, pressure-testing drafts for clarity, fairness, and accuracy, and workflow efficiency—but all reporting, fact-checking, source verification, and editorial decisions remain mine. AI does not generate quotes, source information, or replace original reporting. Any content published under The Alexandria Brief masthead reflects my professional judgment and meets the same ethical standards whether AI tools were used in its creation or not.
See my full Standards & Policies →
What I cover
From city hall to your neighborhood — government decisions, development projects, community events, public safety, local businesses, and the stories that affect your daily life in Alexandria.
- Government & Politics — City council, school board, mayor, budget, elections
- Public Safety — Crime, police, fire, emergency services
- Development — Construction, zoning, neighborhood impact
- Business — Local businesses, economic development, openings and closings
- Food & Drink — Restaurants, bars, cafes, and the people behind them
- Community & Culture — Events, neighborhoods, civic associations, arts
- Education — Alexandria City Public Schools, policies, budgets
- Transportation — Metro, DASH, traffic, bikes, infrastructure
- Region — Virginia, D.C., and Maryland news that matters to Alexandria. Coverage of the stories, decisions, and developments across the region — curated for Alexandria residents.
- Sports — From Alexandria's fields and courts to the region's professional teams — Commanders, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, and United. The games, the moves, and the moments worth following.
Subscribe
The Alexandria Brief delivers original Alexandria reporting you won't find anywhere else — plus the broader news that matters to our community. Free, every weekday morning.
Subscribe for free to receive The Alexandria Brief every weekday morning. It's a daily newsletter that makes you smarter about Alexandria—with news, context, and analysis on what’s shaping your community.
Why become a member?
All journalism is free for everyone. No paywall. No advertising. No corporate owner.
The Alexandria Brief is reader-funded. If you're able to support independent local journalism, become a member. If you can't, read anyway — that's the point.