Brad Alan Edwards
Brad Alan Edwards (born January 5, 1979) is an American journalist. He is currently the primary anchor for CBS News Chicago,[1] the station's 24/7 digital streaming service. Edwards is Chicago's first openly-gay main news anchor.[2]
In 2021, Edwards won the nation's top broadcast writing award: the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing.[3] His exposé on Chicago's broken water billing system - Getting Hosed - won Emmy Awards in 2019[4], 2020[5] and 2021[6].
Prior to joining CBS 2 Chicago in 2012, Edwards anchored and reported in Detroit; Indianapolis; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Lansing, Michigan. At each station, the Associated Press named him Reporter of the Year[7]
In 2021, Edwards opened up about a rare leukemia diagnosis to the Chicago Tribune.[2]
Early Life and education
Edwards was born in Grand Rapids, MI on January 5th, 1979 to the late Don "The Animal" Edwards, a Hall of Fame collegiate basketball player at Central Michigan University. He was later a Division I football and basketball official[8], and Francine K. Edwards, a registered nurse. He is the youngest of two sons. His brother, Matt Edwards, is an NFL official[9]. Edwards attended Michigan State University as an education major, but later switched to journalism. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor's degree in telecommunications.
Career
Edwards began his career as a part-time reporter in Lansing, MI at WSYM-TV/WELG-TV from 2000-2001, while attending school. Following graduation from Michigan State University in 2001, Edwards stayed in Lansing, MI and served as weekend anchor and reporter for WLNS-TV[10].
In 2003, Edwards moved to Grand Rapids, MI to join WOOD-TV as a weekend anchor and reporter[11].
Edwards relocated to Detroit, MI where he worked as a reporter and anchor for WJBK-TV from 2007-2010[12]. His year-long inquiry into the Wayne County morgue led to the burial of dozens of indigent souls, and the fast-tracking of funding for a massive facility expansion[13].
From 2010-2011, Edwards served as anchor and investigative reporter in Indianapolis at WISH-TV[14].
Edwards was hired as a general assignment reporter for WBBM-TV in Chicago in March of 2012. Edwards immediately became the 10 p.m. lead reporter and joined the team of CBS 2 Investigators, working alongside longtime investigative journalists Pam Zekman[15] and Dave Savini. Edwards was promoted to main anchor in March of 2019.[16][17]
In 2021, Edwards won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing[18]. His exposé on Chicago's broken water billing system, Getting Hosed, won Emmy Awards in 2019[4], 2020[5] and 2021[6], and the 2020 RTDNA / NEFE award for Personal Finance Reporting[19].
In 2021, Illinois instituted two new state laws following a revelatory investigation by Edwards and his team[20]. The statutes protect the identities of sex abuse victims[21], after Edwards' series showed a deeply disturbing pattern of unfettered public access to such information[22]
In 2022, Edwards was named primary anchor to CBS News Chicago, the station's 24/7 streaming network[23].
Edwards served on the Board of Directors at the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago from 2017-2021 and has been a board member for Devices 4 the Disabled since 2020[24]. He is currently the CBS 2 Chicago's SAG-AFTRA Steward.
Personal life
Brad Edwards is the first openly gay, main news anchor in the City of Chicago, IL. He came out to his parents when he was 20 years old[2].
Edwards met Ginger Zee, ABC News' Chief Meteorologist, while working as an anchor at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, MI[25]. Zee wrote extensively about their friendship in her New York Times bestselling 2017 autobiography Natural Disaster. Chapter 7 is entitled Brad. Edwards and Zee dated for 18 months. The two remain close friends today[2].
Brad's godmother and Aunt, Barbara Edwards, was killed on September 11, 2001[26]. She was returning home on American Airlines Flight 77 after attending a friend's wedding in Connecticut. In 2021, Brad wrote and produced her untold story that aired on CBS Chicago's Sunday night special Remembering 9/11: 20 Years Later.
Edwards' father, Don Craig Edwards, passed away on July 30, 2005 at age 61 after a battle with cancer[27].
In 2017, Edwards was diagnosed with large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia[2]. He resides in Chicago.
References
- ↑ "Brad Edwards". www.cbsnews.com. January 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Channel 2 anchor Brad Edwards opens up about rare leukemia diagnosis: 'I didn't want to live like how I was living'". Chicago Tribune. 21 August 2020.
- ↑ "CBS 2 Chicago Accepts National Edward R. Murrow Award For Overall Excellence, Brad Edwards Accepts Murrow Award For Excellence In Writing". www.cbsnews.com. 27 October 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2021/05/2019-Chgo-Emmy-Recipients.pdf
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "NATAS Chicago/Midwest | 2020 Emmy® Nominees & Winners". Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2021/12/2021-Emmy-Winner-List.pdf
- ↑ [email protected], Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | (2013-07-19). "Former WOOD-TV8 reporter Brad Edwards: Growing up gay in Grand Rapids was tough". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ [email protected], Steve Kaminski | (2016-02-22). "All-time greats: Legacy of underdog Don 'The Animal' Edwards lives on half-century later". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "The complete 2022 NFL Roster of Officials | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ Schoettle, Anthony (3 January 2012). "WISH says reporter firing not due to downsizing". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Former WOOD TV news director, industry leader, dies of cancer". WOODTV.com. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Video: WJBK's Final Interview with Jack Kevorkian". www.adweek.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ [email protected], Jonathan Oosting | (2010-01-29). "Too broke to bury: Unclaimed bodies now pile up in trailer outside Wayne County Morgue". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "WBBM-Ch. 2 picks up two new reporters". Chicago Tribune. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Feder: Mass layoffs at CBS 2 hit Pam Zekman, other 'valued members of our team'". Daily Herald. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Feder: Brad Edwards still 'CBS 2's biggest cheerleader'". Daily Herald. 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Feder: New CBS 2 anchor Brad Edwards says he's still 'just a news guy'". Daily Herald. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Richard Engel, Today Show Honored with Edward R. Murrow Awards". adweek.it. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "2020 Excellence in Personal Finance Reporting Award Winners". www.nefe.org. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2339". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2340". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Bills Strengthening Privacy For Sexual Assault Victims Signed Into Law After CBS 2 Investigation". www.cbsnews.com. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Brad Edwards". www.cbsnews.com. January 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ devices4thedisabled.org https://devices4thedisabled.org/about/. Retrieved 2023-03-19. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ [email protected], John Gonzalez | (2017-12-05). "From breakdowns to breakups, Ginger Zee tells all in "Natural Disaster'". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Barbara G. Edwards – 9/11 Pentagon Memorial". pentagonmemorial.org. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ "Chippewa Hall of Famer Edwards Passes Away". Central Michigan University Athletics. August 2005. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
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