Harry Boomer facts for kids

Harry Boomer (born September 4, 1953) is a well-known American journalist who works as a reporter and newscaster for radio and television. He is currently the senior reporter for the TV stations WOIO (a CBS affiliate) and WUAB in Cleveland, Ohio.

Early Life and Career Start

Harry Boomer was born in Turkey, North Carolina. He was the youngest of ten children. His father, George Boomer, was a Baptist minister. When Harry was 17, he moved to Washington, D.C. after finishing high school.

His first job was as a disc jockey (DJ) at a nightclub. He became known as a "Super Disco Jock" and was hired by the radio station WPGC. While working, he also went to college.

After a while, Boomer decided he was more interested in news than music. He started working as a news reporter for different radio stations in Washington, D.C. He even became the news director for WOL, a major radio station in the city.

A Career in Cleveland News

In 1988, Boomer moved to Ohio to work at the radio station WBXT in Canton, Ohio. He started as the morning announcer and was soon promoted to program director. At the same time, he began volunteering at the Cleveland TV station WUAB.

Later, Boomer became a reporter and producer for WUAB. He also worked as a reporter for WCPN, Cleveland's NPR radio station. At WCPN, he hosted a morning news show called After Nine.

His work at WUAB grew, especially after the station partnered with WOIO. In 1997, he was named the education reporter for the stations. By 2006, he was promoted to breaking news reporter and anchor. He also hosted a weekly show on WUAB called 43 Focus. Today, he is the longest-serving on-air personality at WOIO and WUAB.

Boomer has also been a leader for Black journalists. He served as president of the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists. This group helps and supports African-American journalists in their careers.

Awards and Recognition

Harry Boomer has received many awards for his work in journalism. In 2015, he received the Silver Circle Award for his 25 years of work in television. In 2022, he received the Gold Circle Award.

In 2014, Boomer was named a "HistoryMaker." This means his life story was recorded and is now kept in a special collection at the Library of Congress for everyone to learn from.

Here are some of his other awards:

• 1996 Cleveland Communicators' Award: Best Hard Single News Story (Anti-Gingrich Protest)
• 1996 Cleveland Communicators' Award: Best Public Service Program (The Subject is ...)
• 1996 Ohio Educational Telecommunications Network Program of the Year (The Subject is ...)
• 1996 Ohio Educational Telecommunications Network News and Public Affairs Program (The Subject is ...)
• 2007: Inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame
• 2014: HistoryMaker at the Library of Congress
• 2015: NATAS Silver Circle Award
• 2022: NATAS Gold Circle Award