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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].

Prior to joining CBS 2 Chicago in 2012, Edwards anchored and reported in Detroit[3]; Indianapolis[4]; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Lansing, Michigan. At each station, The Associated Press named him Reporter of the Year[5].

In 2021, Edwards opened up about a rare leukemia diagnosis to the Chicago Tribune[6].

Early Life and education

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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[7], and Francine K. Edwards, a registered nurse. 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

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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.

In 2003, Edwards moved to Grand Rapids, MI to join WOOD-TV as a weekend anchor and reporter.

Edwards relocated to Detroit, MI where he worked as a reporter and anchor for WJBK-TV from 2007-2010[8]. 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[9].

From 2010-2011, Edwards served as anchor and investigative reporter in Indianapolis at WISH-TV.

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 and Dave Savini. Edwards was promoted to main anchor in March of 2019[10].

In 2021, Edwards won the nation's top broadcast writing award: the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in writing[11]. His exposé on Chicago's broken water billing system - Getting Hosed - won Emmy Awards in 2019[12], 2020[13] and 2021[14] and the 2020 RTDNA / NEFE award for Personal Finance Reporting[15].

In 2021, Illinois instituted two new state laws following a revelatory investigation by Edwards and his team[16]. The statutes protect the identities of sex abuse victims, after Edwards' series showed a deeply disturbing pattern of unfettered public access to such information.

In 2022, Edwards was named primary anchor to CBS News Chicago, the station's 24/7 streaming network[17].

Edwards served on the Board of Directors at the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago from 2017-2021[18] and has been a board member for Devices 4 the Disabled since 2020[19]. He is currently the CBS 2 Chicago's SAG-AFTRA Steward.

Personal life

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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.

He is the youngest of two sons. His brother, Matt Edwards, is an NFL official[20].

Edwards met Ginger Zee, ABC News' Chief Meteorologist, while working as an anchor at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, MI. Zee wrote extensively about their friendship in her New York Times bestselling 2017 autobiography Natural Disaster. Chapter 7 is entitled Brad[21]. Edwards and Zee dated for 18 months. The two remain close friends today.

Brad's godmother and Aunt, Barbara Edwards, was killed on September 11, 2001[22]. 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[23].

Edwards father, Don Craig Edwards, passed away on July 30, 2005 at age 61 after a battle with cancer[24].

In 2017, Edwards was diagnosed with large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia[25]. He resides in Chicago.

  1. ^ "Brad Edwards - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  2. ^ "Brad Edwards talks investigative journalism, coming out, making history - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  3. ^ jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com, Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | (2013-07-19). "Former WOOD-TV8 reporter Brad Edwards: Growing up gay in Grand Rapids was tough". mlive. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  4. ^ Schoettle, Anthony (2012-01-03). "WISH says reporter firing not due to downsizing". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  5. ^ gonzo@mlive.com, John Gonzalez | (2011-12-31). "Former Michigan TV reporter Brad Edwards discusses his firing at Indiana station: 'My dismissal is as mundane as money'". mlive. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  6. ^ "CBS Chicago anchor Brad Edwards opens up about rare leukemia diagnosis". Chicago Tribune. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  7. ^ 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 2023-11-15.
  8. ^ afoley@mlive.com, Aaron Foley | (2011-12-30). "That was fast: Ex-WJBK reporter Brad Edwards 'escorted from the building' of new job". mlive. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  9. ^ 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 2023-11-15.
  10. ^ "Feder: New CBS 2 anchor Brad Edwards says he's still 'just a news guy'". Daily Herald. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  11. ^ "CBS 2 Chicago Accepts National Edward R. Murrow Award For Overall Excellence, Brad Edwards Accepts Murrow Award For Excellence In Writing - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  12. ^ Cat. 6h Win - Brad Edwards, WBBM and Kayla Molander, WBBM, retrieved 2023-11-15
  13. ^ "NATAS Chicago/Midwest | 2020 Emmy® Nominees & Winners". Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  14. ^ "NATAS Chicago/Midwest | 2021 Emmy® Nominees". Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  15. ^ "RTDNA and NEFE announce 2020 Personal Finance Reporting Award winners - Radio Television Digital News Association". www.rtdna.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  16. ^ "Bills Strengthening Privacy For Sexual Assault Victims Signed Into Law After CBS 2 Investigation - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  17. ^ "Feder: CBS 2 hires Joe Donlon as top news anchor as Brad Edwards moves to streaming service". Daily Herald. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  18. ^ "Presenters". We Are Here Concert. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  19. ^ devices4thedisabled.org https://devices4thedisabled.org/about/. Retrieved 2023-11-15. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ "The complete 2023 NFL Roster of Officials | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  21. ^ gonzo@mlive.com, John Gonzalez | (2017-12-05). "From breakdowns to breakups, Ginger Zee tells all in "Natural Disaster'". mlive. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  22. ^ "Barbara G. Edwards". 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  23. ^ "Barbara Edwards, CBS 2's Brad Edwards' Aunt, Was Killed On 9/11; For A Family, The Fireball Still Burns 20 Years Later - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2021-09-11. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  24. ^ "Don Edwards Obituary (2005) - Grand Rapids, MI - Grand Rapids Press". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  25. ^ "CBS Chicago anchor Brad Edwards opens up about rare leukemia diagnosis". Chicago Tribune. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
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