From LFHS to CBS: Noel Brennan and His Journey

By Kayden Prieto Returning to Lake Forest High School as a class of 2007 alumnus, CBS Chicago reporter and 13-time Emmy Award winner Noel Brennan spoke recently with students about the winding, unexpected path that led him from theater at LFHS to telling stories on the national stage. Brennan’s message was clear: careers don’t always start where you expect them to, but passion and persistence can take you farther than a perfectly planned path could ever.

During his first years at LFHS, Brennan was heavily involved in theater, and he never imagined himself entering the broadcast journalism field. However, that began to change his senior year when he enrolled in Telecoms, now known as New Media. The class introduced him to editing, shooting, and storytelling, which ultimately planted the first seed of interest in Media. Though he initially set his sights on Film School and didn’t get into the programs he hoped for, Brennan chose to attend Indiana University––an unexpected decision that ended up refining his future.

“Time management is everything in broadcast journalism,” says Lake Forest High School alumnus Noel Brennan.

At IU, Brennan fell in love with the journalism program after working on scene-based reporting that pushed him outside his comfort zone. He became involved with student media and eventually worked as a student reporter with CBS, gaining hands-on experience that went far beyond the classroom. He also interned at Fox 59 in Indianapolis, where he helped run newscasts and interviewed students. These early reps taught him how fast-paced and collaborative newsrooms really are. 

After graduation, Brennan landed his first full-time job in Waco, Texas, working as a morning anchor. While the world helped him build a strong reel that later led him to Denver, Brennan admitted that Waco didn’t feel like the end goal. He knew he wanted more opportunities, more growth, and more meaningful work. That realization pushed him to keep improving, closing the gap between where he was and where he wanted to be, and it eventually led him to CBS Chicago.  

Now working as a multimedia journalist, Brennan shoots, writes, and edits his own stories every day, essentially running a one-person show. He stresses the importance of finding time to get everything he needs done on time.  

“Time management is everything in broadcast journalism,” Brennan said.

Brennan described how each day begins with an editing meeting where every reporter must pitch a story. Only the strongest ideas move forward, reinforcing the importance of preparation, creativity, and efficiency. One of Brennan’s most memorable insights focused on storytelling itself. He explained that the best stories come from genuine people, people on the street, students, and everyday individuals who let their guard down when you simply put a microphone on them and let them talk.

“Checking in with those people at different points in time allows journalists to tell fuller, more human stories,” said Brennan.

One of his pieces was even seen by Pope Leo, an experience that led to a life-changing trip to Rome with students featured in the story. 

Brennan closed by encouraging LFHS students to stay open to change and to chase opportunities even when the path feels unclear. Finding strong characters, asking real questions, and staying curious, he said, are what truly make a story unforgettable. His journey from LFHS Theater to Telecom to CBS Chicago as a reporter proves that life isn’t linear.

“Sometimes the best careers are the ones you never planned for,” Brennan said. This story was first published in The Forest Scout.