Liam Martin is a general assignment reporter for WCVB-TV ABC 5 in Boston, a position he has held since joining the station in June 2012.
Prior to joining NewsCenter 5, Liam was an anchor and reporter at WILX-TV NBC 10 in Lansing, MI. While in Lansing, he did just about every on-air job at the station - weekend morning anchor; weekday morning anchor; weekday evening anchor; live storm chaser/reporter; sports anchor; sports reporter. He also shot and edited all of his own work, and occasionally produced. Liam has also been a Boston Celtics columnist for NESN.com, and an intern at Bloomberg News.
A native of the South Shore in Massachusetts, Liam is a 2006 graduate of Harvard University in Cambridge, MA where he earned a Bachelor's degree in government, as well as certifications in both Spanish and French. Liam is also a 2009 graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he received his Master's degree in journalism.
1. What kind of phone do you have, and what are your favorite apps?
As with many reporters, I unfortunately have two phones -- one work and one personal. They're both iPhones. My favorite app for the personal phone is probably Pandora. For work, I'd say Pic Stitch, though Twitter is certainly my most frequently used application.
2. Favorite and least favorite news/weather topics to cover (besides violent crime)?
I have a few favorites: sports, politics and pets. In my three years at WCVB, I've been able to cover a Red Sox World Series, a Patriots Super Bowl and four major elections. Very spoiled on that front. And who doesn't love a good pet story?
Least favorite recently has been ALL THIS SNOW. But I generally enjoy storm coverage; it's an adventure, and you're often braving it with great photographers and editors.
3. If you weren't working in TV news, what would you be doing?
Offensive lineman.
I kid. Tough question! I'd likely be involved in politics. I studied government while at Harvard and find it to be a strange mix of frustrating and important.
4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
Tom and Jerry. Not even a competition.
5. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
Sleep.
Kidding. I never have 30 minutes of free time.
Also kidding (sort of). I spend it with my 7-month-old daughter, who's an absolute blast. If she's asleep, I'm probably binge-watching "House of Cards" again.
6. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
Right now, I'd say Hawaii. Anyone living in Boston would know why.
When we're not dealing with 5,678 feet of snow, I'd spring for anywhere along the Mediterranean. Amazing food; beaches; culture; and you're close enough to jump up to some of the major European cities for day trips.
7. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
That depends. Are we talking about a wild dinner party where everyone's having a good time? Or is this a one-on-one dinner with lots of profound conversation? If it's the former, Richard Branson; if it's the latter, the sitting President of the United States.
8. Do you collect anything?
19th century dolls.
Kidding. I used to collect sports cards -- LOTS of them. I still have a collection buried deep in a closet at my mother's house that's likely worth more than $50,000.
9. What are the top 3 played songs on your iPod?
I don't have an iPod. But if I did, it'd be (1) Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb; (2) Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey; and (3) Anything else by Van Morrison.
10. What is one of your favorite quotes?
"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face." - Jack Handey
11. What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
My daughter needed open-heart surgery at 18 days of life to correct something called a ventricular septal defect. I don't know if the experience made me stronger per se, but it certainly brought me even closer to my wife and family. Happily, the surgery went perfectly, and she's no worse for wear.
More about Liam Martin
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