Myles Tierney, 34, an Associated Press TV producer, was killed Jan. 10 while on assignment in Sierra Leone when a car he was riding in was hit by gunfire. Tierney previously worked in the New York commercial editorial community.
His friends and former spot colleagues remembered him warmly and described him as a talented professional who loved his work.
Tierney became a commercial editor in 1991 at Cut To: Editorial, now closed. In 93 he co-founded The Cutting Vision, New York, with partner Jeff Beckerman. A few years ago, he decided to move on, editing at New York-based Magnetic Image Video before joining AP.
According to a press release chronicling his recent years, Tierney joined AP in 1996 as a freelance producer for the agencys TV division in Africa. Later that year he became part of the staff and set up the agencys first TV bureau in New York. In January 97 he moved to Africa, where he was based in Nairobi. There he chronicled the turmoil across East and West Africa. He was part of an AP team that for three months reported exclusively on the advances of then rebel leader Laurent Kabila in eastern Zaire, now Congo. During that assignment, he pioneered the use of a new technology that allowed video to be dispatched over a conventional satellite telephone-meaning his TV coverage was ahead of the competition. He also covered conflicts in Rwanda, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea and Somalia.
Nigel Baker, head of news at AP Television News, said in a released statement: The death of Myles Tierney has robbed international television of one of its brightest young stars. He was a consummate professional, highly talented and highly resourceful.
Friends and colleagues in the commercial community were saddened by Tierneys death. He was the kind of guy who could pick up anything and do it well, recalled Cutting Vision president Beckerman, noting that he had both creative and technical knowledge, as well as talent. He was a fantastic guy. He was a friend to everyone, easygoing and a hard worker.
Beckerman said Tierney loved the adrenaline his broadcast journalism career provided, constantly making quick decisions and following through instantly. I think he liked being a little on the edge. He added that Tierney also seemed to enjoy the adventure of traveling to different countries.
Fred Galarza, a producer at Vidal, Reynardus & Moya Advertising, New York, worked with Tierney for clients such as McDonalds and Budweiser. He was a pleasure to work with, he said. He was always willing to go the extra mile. He always had the right answer.
Galarza said Tierney wanted to be on the go, getting the story. He reached his goal. He added, Its heartbreaking.
Magnetic Image CEO/editor Harry Douglas also recognized Tierneys enjoyment of the adventure in his work. He remembered Tierney as a great editor and producer who loved the business.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 25 at the Newseum in New York.
