Byron Barnett, a towering figure in Boston broadcast journalism and a longtime 7News WHDH reporter, has died at the age of 69. A member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Barnett passed away peacefully on Sunday in his native Minneapolis, surrounded by family, following a battle with cancer.
Barnett joined 7News in 1983 and spent 38 years at the station before retiring in 2021. Known for his compassionate storytelling, tenacious reporting, and warm presence, Barnett was a respected journalist who covered everything from major crime stories to presidential campaigns and historical national events.
Throughout his career, he reported on significant moments including the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the Oklahoma City bombing, the trials of Aaron Hernandez and Whitey Bulger, and the release of American hostages in Lebanon. He was also a familiar face on the presidential campaign trail, covering every race in New Hampshire since 1984, and was once heard pressing Patriots coach Bill Belichick at press conferences.
He hosted the long-running public affairs program Urban Update and was widely recognized for his dedication to covering local stories that mattered to New England communities. In 2017, Barnett was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His colleagues remembered him not just as a journalist, but as a kind, empathetic person who connected with people on their most difficult days.
“Byron looked great when I saw him in June. We just don’t know how much time we have on this planet,” said 7News colleague Jonathan Hall.
Barnett was an Emmy winner and received numerous awards over his career, including the Sigma Delta Chi Award and NABJ’s Journalist of the Year for Region One.
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