Enrique Cerna is a veteran journalist who has worked in Seattle media for nearly 47 years. Cerna worked for 23 years at Cascade Public Media’s KCTS 9 and retired in February 2018 from his role as senior correspondent. Prior to joining KCTS in 1995, he worked as a reporter, producer and host for KOMO Radio and Television and KING Television.
At KCTS 9, Cerna produced and hosted award-winning current affairs programs and documentaries. He reported stories for national PBS programs, provided election analysis for the PBS NewsHour, moderated U.S. Senate, Congressional, Gubernatorial, and Mayoral debates. In addition, he produced and reported documentaries covering critical social justice issues, the environment, and immigration. In addition, he documented the history and contributions of Latinos in Washington State.
Cerna has earned ten Northwest regional Emmy awards. In 2013, he was inducted into the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Northwest Chapter’s Silver Circle for his contributions to the television industry.
Active in the community, Cerna serves on the Yakima Valley Museum Board of Directors and King County Television’s Citizens Advisory Committee. He has also served on the boards of United Way of King County, the World Affairs Council of Seattle, Seattle City Club, and the Chief Seattle Council’s Scout Reach program. He was the co-chair of the successful Plaza Roberto Maestas Capital Campaign which raised more than 40 million dollars to build low-income affordable housing on Seattle’s Beacon Hill.
Cerna grew up in the central Washington community of Wapato. He is a graduate of Washington State University. In March 2020, he was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Washington State University Board of Regents.