Natalie Martinez Biography
Natalie Martinez is an American Emmy Award-winning Anchor and Reporter working for WMAQ-TV NBC 5 Chicago in Illinois as a weekday evening reporter. Prior to joining the station in January 2001, she worked for WXXA-TV.
Natalie Martinez Age
Martinez was born on February 14 in Buffalo, New York, United States. She therefore celebrates her birthday on the 14th of February every year. However, she has not yet disclosed the year she was born, but she might be in her 50s, judging from her appearance.
Natalie Martinez Height
Martinez stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Natalie Martinez Family
Martinez grew up in Buffalo, New York. She has managed to keep her personal life away from the limelight hence she has not disclosed any information about her parents. However, she posted her father’s photo on her Instagram Page on June 18, 2023, wishing him a Happy Father’s Day. Her bio on the WMAQ’s website states that Martinez’s dad is Dominican and her mom is Ukrainian and that she values and embraces the diversity present in Chicago, proudly supporting not only the city’s varied cultures but also actively endorsing the Ukrainian community. It is not known if Martinez has any siblings.
Natalie Martinez Husband / Daughter
Martinez is a married woman and her spouse is Flavio Gama, a Brazilian-certified fitness trainer (he is Martinez’s personal trainer). He is the owner of GamaFit, a private & semi-private personal training program based in Chicago, Illinois. Martinez and Flavio tied the knot in the year 2013.
The couple takes great pride in being dad and mom to their one daughter, Sailor. She is 5 years old as of 2023 having been born in August 2018. Martinez often posts her husband’s and daughter’s on her Instagram Page, and she likes spending her spare time with them, most especially at the beach. It is evident on Martinez’s Instagram Page that Sailor really likes swimming.
Natalie Martinez Net Worth
Martinez has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million and $5 Million which she has earned through her successful career as an Anchor and Reporter.
Natalie Martinez Salary
Martinez earns an annual salary ranging from $ 45,000 – $ 110,500.
Natalie Martinez Career and Education
Martinez is a proud alumnus of the University of North London (on scholarship) and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has had a diverse and extensive career in journalism. Martinez serves at NBC Chicago – WMAQ as a weekday evening “breaking news” reporter, appearing on the 10 PM newscasts. She covers smaller, yet meaningful stories that resonate with the everyday person. Martinez began as a general assignment reporter at the station. She has also held the roles of weekend morning news anchor and daily news reporter at WMAQ.
Over the years with WMAQ, Martinez has reported on significant events, such as the destructive tornadoes that impacted Washington, Fairdale, and Illinois. Before joining NBC Chicago, Martinez worked for WXXA-TV in Albany, New York as a news anchor and reporter for about 10 years. There she spent her last 2 years as the main news anchor. Prior to joining WXXA, she worked at a number of upstate New York radio and TV stations as a producer, reporter, and anchor.
Martinez has elevated her passion for assisting aspiring journalists by becoming DePaul University’s adjunct professor. She is enthusiastic about teaching the Introduction to Journalism course during the Spring of 2021-2022.
Outside of her journalism endeavors, Martinez is actively involved in the art scene, often hosting or participating in events across the city. Additionally, she dedicates her time to charitable work for organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Center on Halsted, and the Chicago Abused Women Coalition (CAWC), among others. She is a frequent Mistress of Ceremonies for various groups throughout the Chicagoland area. “I’m Every Woman Expo” recognized Martinez as among Chicago’s Most Influential Women, in March 2011. During her teenage and childhood years, Martinez engaged in ballet, fostering a profound appreciation for the arts.
Natalie Martinez Awards and Honors
Martinez has been awarded 2 Emmys for her outstanding work. One of these Emmys was earned for her continuous reporting on the devastating tornadoes in Washington while at WMAQ. She received another Emmy for her coverage of the NATO Summit in Chicago, Ill. in the year 2012.
Martinez is highly involved and acknowledged within the Latino community. She is actively involved in NAHJ – the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, having been elected as the Chicago Chapter President in the year 2016. Her leadership was further recognized the following year when the NAHJ honored her with the prestigious “Si Se Puede” Excellence in Leadership award. In the year 2018, Negocios Now’s publication named her the “Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago” for her significant contributions to the improvement of the community.
In the year 2012, Martinez was recognized among reporters receiving a Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award for her contributions to reporting on the verdict in the trial against Rod Blagojevich (former Illinois Governor). Martinez’s excellence in reporting was further acknowledged in the year 2013 when she won an Associated Press award for ‘Best Reporter’, acknowledging her extensive work reporting on feature, hard, and breaking news stories. Notably, her report on the Laquan McDonald case played a pivotal role in NBC 5 receiving a prestigious Peabody Award in the year 2016.
Natalie Martinez NBC 5 Chicago – WMAQ-TV
Martinez is working at WMAQ-TV where she works alongside other famous WMAQ-TV meteorologists, anchors, and reporters including;
- Bennett Haeberle
- Cortney Hall
- Stefan Holt
- Alex Maragos
- Kye Martin
- Brant Miller
- JC Navarrete
- Art Norman
- Lauren Petty
Natalie Martinez Surgery
On June 19, 2023, Martinez posted her photo on her Instagram Page, while on Northwestern Medicine Hospital bed. In the caption, she said that she would be off from her newscasts that week because she had just undergone a “necessary surgery”, which was successful. Nevertheless, she chose not to disclose the reason for undergoing surgery, keeping the details of the illness she was facing private.
Natalie Martinez Social Media Platforms
She is active on her social media accounts and often posts on her Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. She has over 2.1K followers on Instagram.
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