“In every step of his career, Jeff has improved the quality of journalism and increased the ratings of the newscasts he has managed,” Cohen said.  “He is a proven leader with a deep passion for what he does and a respect for the people who work with him.  I'm thrilled that we will have both a Chicago area native and a truly accomplished executive as CBS 2's next news director.”

“There is no news town like Chicago,” Kiernan said. “To work in journalism in this city and at a television station I grew up watching is a humbling opportunity.  It is a privilege to return home and to be a new member of the WBBM family.”

Kiernan, who possesses more than 23 years of broadcast journalism experience, has been the News Director for CBS’s Boston stations since September 2007.   Under his leadership, WBZ-TV’s 11 p.m. newscast has risen to first place and delivered across-the-board ratings growth.   The station’s most recent late-news victory in households, total viewers and key demographics was WBZ-TV’s first in a November sweep since 1993. 

An Emmy Award winning journalist, Kiernan is a 1987 graduate of Marquette University with a B.A. in broadcast journalism.

esabrams@cbs.com

                        Shawnelle Richie                       CBS 2 Chicago                        (312) 899-2022

skrichie@cbs.com