Brad Parks is the Regional Newsgathering Director for CNN’s Midwest Region, based out of the network’s Chicago bureau. In that role, Parks oversees the editorial direction and day-to-day operations for the network’s Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Denver bureaus and teams.

Since being named to the position in 2019, Parks has led reporting teams through multiple breaking news stories, including the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently he led the network’s Emmy Award-winning coverage in Minneapolis of the protests following the death of George Floyd and the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin.

Parks has an extensive background in both programming and field production. During his nearly 20 years at the network, he has played senior roles in producing presidential debates, town halls, and election night coverage. He has also executive produced several of CNN’s Oscars red carpet shows and helped coordinate the network’s special coverage of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and 2012 London Summer Olympics.

In 2007, he joined CNN’s Larry King Live. As a producer based in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. for King, he spent much of his time in the field, producing interviews with world leaders, celebrities, and newsmakers.

In 2014, Parks was named Senior Broadcast Producer of CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront in New York where he helped lead the day-to-day editorial direction, planning and broadcast of the show. Since then, he has also worked with the network’s program development team to conceptualize and launch several shows, including “The Messy Truth” with Van Jones.

Parks has traveled extensively for the network, producing in-depth interviews with President Barack Obama at the White House, former President Bill Clinton, former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Prince Albert of Monaco, and the Dalai Lama. He has also produced special coverage and programs on location from Europe, Africa and the Middle East and was among the first CNN producers on the ground in Port-au-Prince following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Parks began his career at CNN as an intern while still in college at the network’s San Francisco bureau. A proud California native, he is an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley.