A chapter of Boston television history is closing this week. After more than a decade behind the microphone, 7News reporter Kimberly Bookman is walking away from WHDH, with her farewell broadcast scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The twelve-year run marks an unusually long tenure in the fast-moving world of local news, where reporters often bounce between markets and stations.
Bookman herself acknowledged as much when she went public with the news over the weekend.
“12 years. It’s the longest amount of time I’ve ever stayed at any job. Come Tuesday, I will sign off from 7News – WHDH Boston for the last time,” she wrote in her Sunday announcement.
Throughout her career, Bookman built a reputation for careful, deliberate reporting, particularly when covering sensitive or fast-developing stories. She pointed to that standard as a hallmark of her work at the station.
“I always strived to be responsible in my reporting – knowing how important words are during challenging times, breaking news, and on emotional subjects,” she said.
Beyond her own reporting, Bookman described a broader legacy inside the newsroom itself, one built through mentorship rather than just headlines.
“I trained nearly every reporter who walked through the doors in the last decade… I am proud of my contributions here,” she wrote.
Speculation about the reasons behind a high-profile exit is common in local media circles, but Bookman moved quickly to shut that down. “This is my choice,” she said, leaving little ambiguity about who made the call.
Rather than treating the exit as an ending, Bookman framed it as a transition. “I believe the best stories are the ones that keep unfolding. So stay tuned… the next chapter is just beginning!” she wrote, offering no further specifics.
Long before she became a household name in Boston media, Bookman grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, and studied broadcast journalism at American University. She arrived at 7News in August 2014.
Her path to WHDH ran through WCVB, another major Boston station, where she cut her teeth on two of the biggest stories in the city’s modern history: the Boston Marathon bombings and the manhunt-turned-capture of organized crime figure James “Whitey” Bulger.
That body of work did not go unnoticed by the industry. Bookman’s honors include a regional Robert F. Murrow Award, widely regarded as one of broadcast journalism’s top distinctions.
Her trophy case also includes three New England Emmy Awards and a Southeastern Emmy, along with formal recognition from the New York State Broadcasters Association and the Associated Press.
Two of those Emmy wins trace back to specific assignments: her coverage of the Mattapan Massacre and her reporting on a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water main break that disrupted the region.
As word of her departure spread, tributes began pouring in from inside the station itself. 7News anchor Amaka Ubaka posted a message on Instagram celebrating her colleague’s impact on the newsroom culture.
“Wow congrats on 12 years! You know I’ve always called you the MVP of our station! And those words ring so TRUE! You are kind, incredibly smart, always had exclusive stories & operate with such compassion with those you interview and encounter. You are a SUPERSTAR and don’t ever forget it,” Ubaka wrote.
Anchor Keke Vencill echoed that sentiment in a separate post, framing Bookman’s legacy in terms of service as much as journalism.
“I’m so proud to be part of your team, Kimberly. You’re one of the most dedicated journalists in the field, leading with a mindset of community service both at work and outside of it. Wishing you all the best and many blessings in this new chapter,” Vencill wrote.
Station owner Sunbeam Television had not released a public statement on the departure as of the initial reports surrounding Bookman’s announcement.
Bookman has likewise kept quiet about her future plans, offering no details on where she might land next.
For now, viewers who have watched her for more than a decade are left with only her own words: that the story is not over, just entering a new phase.
