Brad Alan Edwards
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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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ↑ "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
- ↑ jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com, Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | (2013-07-19). "Former WOOD-TV8 reporter Brad Edwards: Growing up gay in Grand Rapids was tough". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ Skaminsk@mlive.com, 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.
- ↑ joosting@mlive.com, 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) - ↑ gonzo@mlive.com, 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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