Emmy-award winning journalist Erika Tarantal has joined WCVB-TV Channel 5, Boston’s News Leader, as an anchor and reporter for NewsCenter 5 as announced today by Bill Fine, WCVB President and General Manager.
Tarantal will play a significant role on the EyeOpener (weekdays, 4:30-7AM) and will take over the anchor desk during the Midday news at noon when longtime anchor Susan Wornick retires at the end of the month.
Tarantal comes to WCVB from News 4 New York, NBC’s flagship station in New York City, where she anchored the weekend newscast and also was a primary fill-in co-anchor for WNBC’s weekday morning newscast, “Today in New York.” She has reported on major stories ranging from the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict to hours of coverage during Superstorm Sandy and the tragic shootings in Newtown, CT.
Tarantal joins Ed Harding, Heather Unruh, Phil Lipof, J.C. Monahan and Randy Price as a principal anchor at NewsCenter 5.
“Erika is an exceptional journalist and we are excited that she is making Boston and WCVB her home,” added News Director Andrew Vrees. “Her professionalism and ability to connect to her audience will make her a great asset to our NewsCenter 5 team for years to come.”
Tarantal joined News 4 New York as a general assignment reporter in December 2007. Prior to joining NBC4, Tarantal served as a general assignment reporter at WVIT-TV in Hartford, CT beginning in October 2005. Prior to that, Tarantal rose through the ranks at News 12 in the Bronx where she started as a general assignment reporter before being promoted to anchor of the station’s weekday morning newscast. Tarantal also served as a production assistant at WHDH-TV in Boston. Before beginning her career in broadcasting, Tarantal was a paralegal for the Office of the Attorney General in Boston.
“Erika is an extremely talented, respected and seasoned journalist. That, combined with her prior experience in Boston, will make her a strong addition to Channel 5’s news desk and in the field,” said Fine. “WCVB’s anchors and reporters have strong ties to Boston, and a deep knowledge of the New England area. It is something that really differentiates and defines our NewsCenter 5 team, of which Erika is proud to join.”
“I began my television career in Boston and am thrilled to return. New England is home to me, with my husband’s family in Vermont and my family on Cape Cod. Being able to now call WCVB my home as well is truly an honor. I couldn’t ask to be joining a better team,” said Tarantal.
Tarantal graduated from Connecticut College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in government.
