Pat Kiernan

Early Career and Move to New York

Pat Kiernan began his media career in radio while still a business student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. His first professional role was at CKRA-FM in 1988, marking the start of a broadcasting journey that would soon transition to television. He joined the news team at Edmonton's CFRN News, gaining foundational experience in television journalism before moving to CITV in 1993. At CITV, Kiernan took on a production role for the station's weekday primetime newscast, further honing his skills behind the scenes. In 1996, he made a significant career move, relocating to New York City to work for Time Warner. The network, launched in 1992 and available only to cable subscribers in the five boroughs, built a loyal audience of over one million daily viewers, providing Kiernan with a concentrated New York City platform.

NY1 Tenure and Signature Segments

Kiernan's long-running tenure at NY1 has made him a staple of New York morning television, with a loyal audience concentrated in the city's five boroughs. He is most famous for his "In the Papers" feature, a daily segment where he reviews and humorously summarizes stories from New York's numerous daily newspapers. This segment demonstrates his deadpan delivery and deep knowledge of the city's press, endearing him to viewers. In 2008, he expanded this concept online with Pat's Papers, a website curating notable stories from newspapers across the United States. Beyond his regular duties, Kiernan's role included historic moments of crisis reporting, most notably his continuous coverage during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was on air when word of an incident at the World Trade Center reached the newsroom during a commercial break at approximately 8:47 a.m.. He remained on air for nearly 15 hours that day, later noting the next commercial break on NY1 was three weeks later. On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in 2026, he reflected on the value of remembering that day and the unique local focus NY1 provided to desperate families and a shaken city, stating their role was to be in lower Manhattan with families holding pictures of missing loved ones.

National and Cross-Border Broadcasting

While anchored in New York, Kiernan has maintained a strong presence in Canadian television, serving as a correspondent for the Business News Network. From 2000 to 2004, he co-anchored the CNNfn program The Money Gang alongside fellow Canadians Amanda Lang and Ali Velshi, as well as Christine Romans. In 2015, he joined Bloomberg TV Canada as the host of Bloomberg North, a weekly half-hour program reviewing global business events from a Canadian perspective. This dual role highlights his unique position as a broadcaster who interprets major stories for audiences on both sides of the border. His expertise and recognizable persona led Report on Business magazine to name him one of the "16 Canadians We Want Back" in 2013. He has also worked in New York radio, joining WABC (AM) in January 2014 to host a 5 p.m. weeknight news and talk show recapping the day's events, though he left that position in early 2015.

Game Show Hosting and Other Media Appearances

Kiernan has diversified his career by hosting several game shows, primarily those produced by Michael Davies. His foray into this genre began in the summer of 2004 with Studio 7, which aired on The WB Television Network. He later hosted two seasons of The World Series of Pop Culture for VH1, which premiered in July 2006 and July 2007. In 2007, he served as the off-screen questioner for the U.S. version of Grand Slam on GSN. More recently, in 2013, he co-hosted the small business competition series Crowd Rules on CNBC. Ratings for the series fell below expectations and six of its eight initially produced episodes were never aired. Beyond game shows, Kiernan has made numerous cameo appearances in films and television series, typically playing himself or a news reporter. His notable film cameos include The Interpreter (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), True North (2006), The Son of No One (2011), Iron Man 3 (2013), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). He has also guest-hosted on popular talk shows, including a March 7, 2012 appearance as co-host with Kelly Ripa on Live! with Kelly, an opportunity he had publicly expressed interest in a year earlier in New York Magazine.

Pat Kiernan has hosted several game shows, all produced by Michael Davies. He hosted Studio 7, which aired on The WB Television Network in the summer of 2004. Kiernan also hosted two seasons of The World Series of Pop Culture, which began airing on VH1 on July 10, 2006, and July 9, 2007. He served as the off-screen questioner for the U.S. version of Grand Slam, which premiered on GSN on August 4, 2007. In May 2013, Kiernan joined Crowd Rules as one of the two co-hosts on the small business competition series.

• Studio 7 (The WB Television Network, Summer 2004)
• The World Series of Pop Culture, Season 1 (VH1, premiered July 10, 2006)
• The World Series of Pop Culture, Season 2 (VH1, premiered July 9, 2007)
• Grand Slam (U.S. version, off-screen questioner, GSN, premiered August 4, 2007)
• Crowd Rules (co-host, CNBC, 2013)

Publications and Public Engagement

Kiernan authored his first children's book, Good Morning, City, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2016. The book, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly noting that "Kiernan knows a lot about how a city shakes off sleep," is inspired by his own early morning commute to NY1 and depicts a city waking up. In his professional capacity, he has been featured in major publications like New York magazine in a February 2001 profile titled "Morning Star," the New York Post in an October 2005 feature called "Dream Job: Pat Kiernan," and The New Yorker's "Explainer" column in May 2012. Kiernan also engages in corporate and public speaking, having joined TrivWorks in January 2011 as a special host available for select corporate team-building events. His insights into New York life and business continue to be sought after for panels and discussions, such as a 2026 Paley Center for Media event reflecting on 9/11 coverage moderated by former CNN anchor Paula Zahn.

Pat Kiernan has been featured in publications including New York magazine, the New York Post, and The New Yorker. New York magazine featured him in an article titled "Morning Star" on February 5, 2001. The New York Post published a profile called "Dream Job: Pat Kiernan" on October 3, 2005. The New Yorker included him in its "Explainer" section on May 21, 2012. These profiles have documented his career and his persona as a New York City television host.

• New York magazine, "Morning Star" profile (February 5, 2001)
• New York Post, "Dream Job: Pat Kiernan" feature (October 3, 2005)
• The New Yorker, "Explainer" column (May 21, 2012)
• Publishers Weekly, starred review for Good Morning, City (2016)
• The New York Times, feature on his move to Brooklyn (May 8, 2012)

Selected Film and Television Appearances

Pat Kiernan has appeared in cameo roles in several films, almost always as himself. His film appearances include The Interpreter in 2005, Night at the Museum in 2006, and True North in 2006. He also appeared in The Son of No One in 2011, Iron Man 3 in 2013, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014. More recently, he is known for appearances in Spider-Man: Far from Home in 2019 and Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021.

These film appearances complement his primary work in news. Kiernan has also appeared on television series in cameo roles as himself. His television credits include appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Broad City, and The Daily Show. He appeared as a guest co-host with Kelly Ripa on Live! with Kelly on March 7, 2012. These roles allow his recognizable persona to reach broader entertainment audiences.

September 11 Coverage and Lasting Impact

Kiernan's reporting during the September 11, 2001, attacks represents a defining chapter in his career and for NY1. When news of the first plane hitting the North Tower arrived during a commercial break, he and his team scrambled for information in what he recalled as a dial-up internet age, relying initially on callers from the street. He noted they were fortunate to have two quality eyewitnesses call in within the first couple of minutes, which allowed them to stay on air with descriptions while mobilizing their news team. In a 2026 interview, Kiernan reflected on how different coverage would be today with social media and artificial intelligence, questioning the legitimacy of instant pictures. He emphasized that NY1's lane was fully focused on what was happening in New York City, particularly attending to the thousands of New Yorkers with missing loved ones. Kiernan described the act of handing the microphone to families in Greenwich Village as both compelling for viewers and therapeutic for those in a desperate moment, a core part of their local service. Unedited YouTube footage of his broadcast from that morning, posted to X in 2026, garnered over 10.4 million views, demonstrating enduring public interest in that day's raw news coverage.

Personal Life and Citizenship

Pat Kiernan married Dawn Lerohl on June 4, 1994, and the couple moved from Canada to Manhattan in 1996. They are both citizens of Canada and the United States, reflecting Kiernan's binational life and career. The family initially lived on Manhattan's Upper West Side before purchasing a townhouse in the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn in April 2012 for two million dollars. Kiernan and his wife have two daughters, Lucy, born October 27, 2001, and Maeve, born July 12, 2004. His daily routine is famously rigorous, beginning with a 3 a.m. wake-up call to prepare for his early morning broadcast, a discipline that has defined his professional life for over a quarter century in New York. In 2026, he and NY1 colleague Jamie Stelter discussed topics like the resurgence of outdoor dining in New York City for Spectrum News, and he was involved in a promotional clip where a Canadian man paid $83,000 for a brand-new 2026 vehicle, a story that played on his identity as a Canadian New Yorker.

Pat Kiernan was born on November 20, 1968 in Calgary, Alberta. He married Dawn Lerohl on June 4, 1994. The couple moved to Manhattan in 1996 and are citizens of both the United States and Canada. They have two children, Lucy born on October 27, 2001 and Maeve born on July 12, 2004. In April 2012, Kiernan purchased a townhouse in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

• Marriage to Dawn Lerohl: June 4, 1994
• Move to Manhattan, New York: 1996
• Birth of daughter Lucy: October 27, 2001
• Birth of daughter Maeve: July 12, 2004
• Purchase of Brooklyn townhouse: April 2012
• Dual citizenship: Canada and United States

Questions about Pat Kiernan

What is Pat Kiernan best known for?

Pat Kiernan is best known as the morning news anchor for NY1 in New York City, a position he has held since 1997. He is particularly famous for his daily "In the Papers" segment, where he delivers humorous and deadpan summaries of stories from New York's daily newspapers. This signature feature, along with his long tenure, has made him a familiar and trusted face in New York morning television. His role expanded online in 2008 with the creation of Pat's Papers, a website curating stories from newspapers across the United States.

Is Pat Kiernan Canadian?

Yes, Pat Kiernan was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on November 20, 1968. He began his broadcasting career in Edmonton, Alberta, at CKRA-FM in 1988 and is a graduate of the University of Alberta. Kiernan holds dual citizenship, being a citizen of both Canada and the United States, which reflects his professional life spanning both countries. He was named one of the "16 Canadians We Want Back" by Report on Business magazine in 2013.

What other shows has Pat Kiernan hosted?

Beyond his news anchoring, Kiernan has hosted several game shows. These include Studio 7 on The WB in 2004, two seasons of The World Series of Pop Culture on VH1 in 2006 and 2007, and he was the off-screen questioner for Grand Slam on GSN in 2007. He also co-hosted the CNBC small business competition series Crowd Rules in 2013, though six of its eight episodes were never aired due to low ratings. He hosted the weeknight news and talk show on WABC radio from 2014 to 2015.

Was Pat Kiernan on air during 9/11?

Yes, Pat Kiernan was on air as the NY1 morning anchor during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He remained on air for nearly 15 hours that day, providing continuous coverage as events unfolded. He noted that the next commercial break on NY1 after the attacks began was three weeks later. On the 25th anniversary in 2026, he participated in panels reflecting on the media coverage of that day, noting the unique local role NY1 played for New Yorkers and the reliance on eyewitness callers in the initial minutes.

Has Pat Kiernan written any books?

Pat Kiernan authored a children's book titled Good Morning, City, published in 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book is inspired by his own early morning commute to the NY1 studios and illustrates a city waking up. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which praised Kiernan's knowledge of how a city shakes off sleep. This publication represents a creative extension of his personal and professional experience as a morning fixture in New York.

What Canadian networks has Pat Kiernan worked for?

Kiernan has maintained strong ties to Canadian broadcasting throughout his career. He has served as a correspondent for the Business News Network. Since 2015, he has been the host of Bloomberg North on Bloomberg TV Canada, a weekly half-hour program that reviews global business news from a Canadian perspective. He also previously co-anchored the CNNfn program The Money Gang with other Canadian journalists like Amanda Lang and Ali Velshi from 2000 to 2004.

Sources and further reading

• Pat Kiernan (Wikipedia)
• NY1 Anchor Pat Kiernan On 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 (deadline.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.