After finishing his service in the US Marine Corps, Sardella went to work for a couple of radio stations: one in Ashland, Tillamook and another in Eugene, Oregon. In 1969, Sardella decided to pursue television reporting. He received a co-anchor job at KBTV in Denver, which became KUSA-TV in 1984. Sardella reported for the 10 o’clock news update starting in 1974 and stayed there for almost 25 years. While working at KUSA, the station was the market leader in viewer ratings for almost all of his years there. In 2001, after Sardella retired the ratings at Channel 9 dipped significantly. After Sardella left Channel 9, Jim Benemann filled his shoes.
Accolades
In 1997 the Colorado Broadcasters Association named Sardella Broadcaster of the Year. In his career at KUSA he won many Emmys. He was also awarded one of two half-century awards on 9 News’s 50th anniversary. The awards were given to Sardella in recognition of his contribution to KUSA’s success. Sardella was inducted into the Denver Press ClubHall of Fame and National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter Silver Circle. In addition to winning Broadcaster of the Year, Sardella also won Journalist of the Year. Ed Sardella has won many “Best of Denver Winners” awards through the Denver based Westword newspaper. Every year The Westword gives out their “Best of Denver” awards to celebrate the people and places of Denver, Colorado. In 1984 Sardella received “Best Anchorperson” for his work at KUSA. In 1987 he received “Best TV Anchor” for Channel 9. In 1988 he received “Best Local T.V. Anchor.” 1991 he received Best Local T.V. Anchor from both The Westword and by the Reader’s Choice categories. Then in 2000, Sardella received the Reader’s Choice award for “Best Local T.V. Anchor” again.
Current
After retiring from KUSA, Sardella went on to write Write Like You Talk…A Broadcast Newswriting Handbook and The Producing Strategy 2.0. The book has been used in many journalism and mass communication classrooms across the country. He also co-wrote the book The Producing Strategy 2.0. That book details how to build your own strategy and compete in a world where television news has become the background of life. Sardella also joined Total Longterm Care as a consultant to promote options and resources for caregivers, hosting a series of free town meetings around the Denver metro area. Sardella still resides in Denver and now hosts “Let’s Talk,” a monthly interview show on Government-access television. He also hosts a weekly radio program on the law and on lawyers on behalf of a nationally recognized law firm from Denver.
