Cyndy Brucato
Encyclopedia
Cyndy Brucato is journalist, public relations consultant and former longtime Minneapolis
-Saint Paul
, Minnesota
, news anchor. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and was educated there through graduate school at Northwestern University
's Medill School of Journalism.
in Duluth, Minnesota
, in the mid 1970s, Brucato garnered respect in the late 1970s as a hard hitting, no-nonsense reporter at WCCO-TV
in Minneapolis, followed by WBBM-TV
in Chicago
. Amid much fanfare, KSTP-TV
brought her back to Minnesota in 1979 as a news co-anchor alongside Ron Magers
. They were the Twin Cities' top-rated news team—an era unparalleled at the station. After Magers' departure in 1981, she was paired with Stan Turner for most of the next five years, with a short stint sitting next to Bob Vernon.
In 1986, Brucato sought a news anchor position in Boston. Although a move never transpired, KSTP management decided to pull Cyndy off-air for the months remaining on her contract. After her non-compete agreement with Channel 5 expired, she briefly moved to KARE
in 1987. She gave featured reports under the heading 'Cyndy's Notebook'.
Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson
. She also served as Director of Communications for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and as Communications Director for Republican Norm Coleman
.
anchor desk. Her comeback had been preceded by a guest appearance as a fill-in sportscaster, at Sports Director Joe Schmit's request. Management then decided to rehire her for a news anchor position.
During her first year back at Channel 5, Brucato anchored the 10:00 p.m. news until a new main anchor team was in place. She remained on the KSTP 6:30 news anchor desk until September 2010. During her tenure, she received a Peabody Award
and a national Emmy, and was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
While Brucato's return to KSTP only caused an initial bump in the ratings, her greater significance was to add insight and depth to the news desk, which has many newer personalities in the market. She also expressed public support for the Hubbard family.
After leaving KSTP, Brucato rejoined her strategic communications company and serves as a senior consultant. She is also a featured reporter for MinnPost.com.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, news anchor. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and was educated there through graduate school at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
's Medill School of Journalism.
Early broadcasting career
After getting her start at WDIO-TVWDIO-TV
WDIO-DT and WIRT-DT are the ABC and Me-TV-affiliated television stations for North Central and Northeastern Minnesota, and Northwestern Wisconsin...
in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, in the mid 1970s, Brucato garnered respect in the late 1970s as a hard hitting, no-nonsense reporter at WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
in Minneapolis, followed by WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Amid much fanfare, KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
brought her back to Minnesota in 1979 as a news co-anchor alongside Ron Magers
Ron Magers
Ron Magers is a weeknight anchor for WLS-TV, the ABC owned-and-operated station in Chicago, the city's number one station. He currently co-anchors the top-rated 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. broadcasts with Cheryl Burton and Kathy Brock, respectively...
. They were the Twin Cities' top-rated news team—an era unparalleled at the station. After Magers' departure in 1981, she was paired with Stan Turner for most of the next five years, with a short stint sitting next to Bob Vernon.
In 1986, Brucato sought a news anchor position in Boston. Although a move never transpired, KSTP management decided to pull Cyndy off-air for the months remaining on her contract. After her non-compete agreement with Channel 5 expired, she briefly moved to KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
in 1987. She gave featured reports under the heading 'Cyndy's Notebook'.
Gubernatorial press secretary
From 1990-1996, Brucato served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Director of Communications and Press Secretary for RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson
Arne Carlson
Arne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
. She also served as Director of Communications for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and as Communications Director for Republican Norm Coleman
Norm Coleman
Norman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
.
Establishment of public relations firm
During the next eight years, Brucato was President and Chief Consultant of Brucato & Halliday Ltd., a Minnesota-based public relations company. Her business was certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses.Return to KSTP and aftermath
In 2004, after an 18-year absence from the station, Brucato made a surprise return to the KSTP-TVKSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
anchor desk. Her comeback had been preceded by a guest appearance as a fill-in sportscaster, at Sports Director Joe Schmit's request. Management then decided to rehire her for a news anchor position.
During her first year back at Channel 5, Brucato anchored the 10:00 p.m. news until a new main anchor team was in place. She remained on the KSTP 6:30 news anchor desk until September 2010. During her tenure, she received a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
and a national Emmy, and was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
While Brucato's return to KSTP only caused an initial bump in the ratings, her greater significance was to add insight and depth to the news desk, which has many newer personalities in the market. She also expressed public support for the Hubbard family.
After leaving KSTP, Brucato rejoined her strategic communications company and serves as a senior consultant. She is also a featured reporter for MinnPost.com.