Mary Ann Bergerson Ahern joined NBC5 News in March 1989 and was named Political Reporter in 2006.
On the political beat, Ahern has covered political campaigns from the White House to Springfield to Chicago. She witnessed the transitions from Mayor Richard Daley to Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and traveled through the primary states for the 2008, 2012, 2016 presidential campaigns, just as she did in 1988 while a reporter in Atlanta.
She has covered presidential election nights from Texas, Boston, New York and Chicago and has covered presidential inaugurations from Washington, D.C.
Her reports on the NBC 5 News and on NBCChicago.com are closely followed locally and nationally. As well, Ahern follows the political goings on in Springfield and the Illinois delegation in the nation's capital.
She's gained recognition for covering the religion beat and has reported from Rome on the selection of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict's farewell and the 2014 canonization of pontiffs John XXIII and John Paul II. Over the years she covered Pope John Paul II's many trips including Cuba and several World Youth Day events. Ahern followed Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s final years, the selection of both Cardinal Blase Cupich and Cardinal Francis George, the beatification of Mother Teresa, and the Pope’s emergency meeting with the American Cardinals on the priest sex abuse crisis.
Ahern is recognized for breaking many stories related to the Roman Catholic church. In 1991, she was the first reporter to disclose the priest sex abuse crisis that led to the Archdiocese eventually opening its files and creating a lay review board, a model that other cities followed.
In 1996 in Cuba, Ahern was one of the few American journalists allowed to report on Pope John Paul’s trip to Havana over a 10-day period. She also traveled with Cardinal George to Mexico City to report on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Ahern not only reports for NBC Chicago, but is often selected to file stories for the NBC affiliates nationwide. Likewise, she is often called on as a panelist for political and religion media issues.
During her reporting career in Chicago, Ahern conducted the last television interview with actor and disability activist Christopher Reeve in October 2004, just days before he died.
Ahern has also covered everyday events from elections to snowstorms, from City Hall to Wrigley Field, from Princess Diana’s visit to Chicago to the White House. She’s known for enterprising stories about everyday people placed in extraordinary circumstances, like the Marine who had his purple heart revoked.
Before coming to NBC 5, Ahern was the political reporter for WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Ga., from 1985-1989. She served as reporter/weekend anchor at WEEK-TV in Peoria, Ill. from 1982-1985.
A native of Michigan City, Ind., Ahern graduated with a B.A. degree from John Carroll University.
While working as an English teacher at two Chicago-area high schools. She received her Master's degree in Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and another Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University.
She has several Emmy awards for news coverage and earned the Peter Lisagor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Headline Club in 2012.
Drop Mary Ann a line: maryann.ahern@nbcuni.com. She's also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Latest
-
Closing arguments made in closely-watched Cook County State's Attorney, 7th District races
With Illinois’ primary election just two days away, candidates were busy persuading voters to make their voices heard on Sunday. In the race for Cook County State’s Attorney, the big question was – do voters want to turn the page from outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx? In the race for the 7th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Danny Davis...
-
Here's what happened when Los Angeles passed a ‘mansion tax'
There’s a question on all Chicago ballots to increase the city’s real estate transfer tax on all properties over $1 million, with the funding to be spent on efforts to address homelessness. Supporters call it “Bring Chicago Home,” while some have dubbed it a “mansion tax” – but what does it really do?
-
How to check judges on your Illinois primary election ballot
Many of the names on the ballot for Illinois primary election voters this cycle are judicial candidates. While those races may not garner as much attention as the names at the top of each ticket, experts say voters should research every candidate, because those judicial seats carry a lot of power.
-
A look at the 2 Democrats running for Cook County State's Attorney
Two Democrats are vying for Cook County State’s Attorney in the upcoming primary election, looking to replace incumbent Kim Foxx, who is not running for a third term.
-
Emails show Chicago mayor pushed Sox for unified messaging amid stadium funding ask
As the Chicago Bears and White Sox both look for public funding for new stadium developments, newly obtained internal emails show that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office pushed to publicly present a united front with the Sox after meeting with owner Jerry Reinsdorf in early January.
-
Experts on the growing power of Illinois' Latino vote: ‘There is work that we need to do'
As Illinois’ population has declined year after year, the number – and proportion – of Latino residents across the state has skyrocketed, giving the demographic group an ever-growing political power that experts say is underutilized.
-
The night Mike Madigan made time stand still for the Chicago White Sox
As the White Sox look for up to $1 billion in public money for a new stadium in Chicago’s South Loop, some can’t help but recall when the Illinois General Assembly said yes to taxpayer funds to build what’s now known as Guaranteed Rate Field.
-
Newly obtained records shed light on cost of Mayor Brandon Johnson's trip to Los Angeles
Records show Mayor Brandon Johnson traveled to Los Angeles earlier this month with seven city employees – including four members of his security detail – at a cost to the taxpayers of nearly $8,000, though that figure may be higher given the heavy redactions of the documents obtained.
-
Aldermen, lawmakers criticized Chicago Board of Education over selective enrollment in private briefings, newly obtained videos show
As the Chicago Board of Education looks to shift away from selective enrollment high schools, internal briefings obtained by NBC 5 Investigates show the Board’s effort to get lawmakers’ support for the plan – and the pushback they got in response.
-
Critics blast Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard for spending, lack of financial transparency
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard is under fire for questionable spending and concern the village’s bills are not being paid.