Natalie Morales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Natalie Morales | |
| Born | June 6, 1972 Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Occupation | journalist, television personality |
Natalie Leticia Morales (born June 6, 1972 in Taiwan), is an American television news journalist and became an official member of NBC News "The Today Show" in February 2006, after filling in since 2004. Morales co-anchors for the program and fills in regularly at the news desk. She has also filled in as anchor of weekend editions of NBC Nightly News. Previously, she was an anchor for MSNBC. Morales joined MSNBC as an anchor and correspondent in March 2002. She anchored until February 2006 and again in July 2007 as part of political coverage.
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[edit] Career
While at MSNBC and NBC News, Morales has anchored a number of major breaking news stories including the Battle for White House 2004; the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; the Iraqi prisoner abuse; Operation Iraqi Freedom; the Shuttle Columbia explosion, the blackouts of 2003; the Washington D.C. area sniper shootings; and the Scott Peterson case. Additionally, she was named one of Hispanic Magazine’s Top Trendsetters of 2003 [1].
Prior to joining MSNBC, Morales served as a weekend anchor/reporter and morning co-anchor at WVIT-TV in Hartford, CT, where she reported on the Columbine shootings, Tropical Storm Floyd, Decision 2000 and the terrorist attacks on September 11. She also co-hosted and reported for the Emmy-nominated documentary, “Save Our Sound,” a joint production with WNBC-TV New York on preserving the Long Island Sound. Morales began her on-air career at News 12 – The Bronx, as the first morning anchor. Morales also served as cameraperson, editor and producer for News 12–The Bronx. In 1999, she was voted one of the 50 Most Influential Latinas for her news coverage and reports by the Hispanic daily newspaper El Diario La Prensa.
Previously, Morales spent two years working behind the scenes at Court TV. Morales, who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, was born in Taiwan and spent the first 18 years of her life living overseas in Panama, Brazil, and Spain as an Air Force “brat.” Morales is half Puerto Rican and half Brazilian.[2]
Morales holds a bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers University, New Jersey, with dual majors in journalism and Latin American studies. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Following college, she worked at Chase Bank in New York before pursuing her journalism career. In 2007, Morales received the "Groundbreaking Latina in Media" award from Catalina magazine and the National Association of Latina Leaders. People en Español named Morales one of its fifty most beautiful people for 2007.
Speculation about Morales' candidacy to replace Katie Couric as anchor of Today was put to rest when Meredith Vieira was named Couric's replacement. Morales had been previously thought to be a candidate, along with Campbell Brown and Ann Curry.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Morales was born to Penelope Morales and Lieutenant Colonel Mario Morales Jr. She spent much of her life living overseas with her family in Panama, Brazil and Spain.
Morales married Joe Rhodes on 22 August 1998 and they have a son, Joseph Steven "Josh" Rhodes. They currently reside in Hoboken, New Jersey.[2] On March 6, 2008 she announced on the Today Show that she is pregnant with her second child, who is due in September.[3]
She is a frequent runner and recently completed her 3rd New York City marathon and 5th marathon overall.
[edit] References
- ^ Ann Oldenburg. "Meredith Vieira to replace Katie Couric", USA TODAY, April 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-04-06.
- ^ "Having it all: Anchor and Hoboken resident Natalie Morales reflects on motherhood, juggling family and career, and the birth of her son", The Hoboken Reporter, May 8, [[2005]. Accessed June 1, 2008.
- ^ Today's Natalie Morales Is Pregnant
