Editor’s note: This story recently
appeared in our sister paper, Salem Life.

By Mike Previte
Salem Life Writer

“It’s a real fun town to live in and a good place for my kids to grow up in.”

Those are the words of Salem, N.H., native and current resident Mike Cronin, sports director for WMUR TV Channel 9 in Manchester.
Since he was 12 attending St. Joseph’s for middle school, Cronin has had his roots here, even though his many news assignments have taken him all over the country.

Since high school days at Central Catholic (Class of 2007) in Lawrence, he has loved media and everything about it. One of his Central teachers, Sully Grella, told Mike that he had a “voice for radio,” the career path was clear. While at Central, he was elected class president and also participated in theater. Then, at Bryant University, Cronin was given the opportunity to intern at Fox 25 television.

“At the end of my college years, I applied at multiple (TV) stations. I ended up being hired by KFBB TV in Great Falls, Montana. My role was to be a bureau reporter in the city of Helena, Montana,” Cronin said. “I covered politics at the state capitol. I was a one-man band. It was quite a learning experience. I even got the chance to fill in as a weekend news anchor!”

From his time in a Mountain Time Zone, Cronin then got the chance to move back East – Worcester to be exact – with Spectrum1 News, an affiliate of Charter and NECN.

“I was there for two years as a freelance and weekend reporter. I loved it!” he recounted.

Finally, Cronin’s big break came when he was hired at the closest television station to his hometown of Salem: Channel 9, an ABC affiliate in Manchester, in December 2014. At first, he was the breaking news reporter, covering everything from accidents and fires to championship high school and college games.

“I also did feature stories and high-interest news, city council meetings, et cetera – a complete variety of things. I was always learning something new,” Cronin said.

Then, for four years, Cronin did weekend news at the anchor desk, but also was given the chance to fill in during the week doing sports – something, he noted, he really enjoyed.

Three years ago, the sports anchor position opened and Cronin was selected – a dream come true for this avid New England sports fan!
“I like them all (home teams). Such a unique experience, being on the field at Gillette (Stadium). But my thrill of a lifetime was being on the court at TD Garden when the Celtics won their last championship” in 2024, he said.

In 2020, he won an Edward R. Murrow Award for his “New Hampshire Chronicle” story on NHL official Brian Murphy retiring from the league.

Cronin is a self-proclaimed homebody as a husband and father of two. But he does have some favorite restaurants in Salem.
“Once they built Tuscan Village,” he said, “the food scene really exploded. I like Farmhouse Roasters, Copper Door, lots of good food on Route 28.”

According to WMUR.com, “He spends much of his summers with his family enjoying Big Island Pond. In the winter, you’ll find him skiing all over New England. He loves to travel and experience new places locally and internationally.”

In sports, it once was said that “nice guys finish last.”
Well, if you watch or meet Mike Cronin, you’re encountering a nice guy who finished FIRST.