Keller was born in Washington, D.C., but raised in Cambridge, according to his biography on WBZ-CBS News’s website. He went to Brandeis University in Waltham and graduated in 1977, according to the bio.
Keller has been a frequent moderator or panelist at political debates, including the 2020 Democratic primary between Senator Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy, the 2012 debate between Senator Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren, and the 2013 mayoral race between Marty Walsh and John Connolly. This month, he moderated a forum for the District 7 seat on the Boston City Council.
His career spans decades, on air and in print
While Keller’s WBZ career started in 2005, he did not get his start there. Since 1978, he has been “reporting and commenting on local politics,” according to his biography on MASSterlist’s website.
He was a radio producer and talk-show host before transitioning to print at the Tab newspapers, a group of weeklies in the metrowest area. There, he was an editor, reporter, and columnist. He later worked at the Boston Phoenix, where he was chief political reporter, according to his biographies on the two sites.
He was also political analyst on WLVI-TV for the “Ten O’Clock News” for 14 years, according to CBS’s biography.
Keller has also been an op-ed columnist for the Globe, according to the bio.
His freelance pieces have popped up in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the New Republic, according to CBS’s site.
He was laid off from WBZ Newsradio in 2020
Keller was one of those laid off from WBZ Newsradio 1030 in 2020 following parent company iHeartMedia’s major restructuring and layoffs, the Globe reported.
“Keller @ Large” continued on WBZ-TV following these cuts. Other popular local radio personalities were also let go during this time, the Globe reported.
He can still be read
His work can continue to be read on MASSterlist through a column that was started March 2020, according to their site.
His column published Monday tackles education in the state and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
He’s an award winning journalist
In his almost 50-year career, Keller has won at least 11 Emmy awards in political reporting and commentary, according to his biographies on CBS’s and MASSterlist’s websites.
He has also been twice-named “Best TV Political Analyst” in annual “Best of Boston” Boston Magazine issues, according to CBS’s bio.
“Jon is widely regarded as the best political analyst in New England,” according to his biography on CBS’s website. “He is a favorite of the region’s viewers because he is smart, witty and local, and asks the tough questions everyone wants to have asked.”
Breanne Kovatch can be reached at breanne.kovatch@globe.com. Follow her @breannekovatch.
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