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Jennifer Peñate Joins WCVB Channel 5 As Weekend Evening Anchor & Reporter
Boston, MA – June 26, 2023 – Award-winning journalist Jennifer Peñate will join WCVB Channel 5, Boston’s News and Community Leader, as weekend evening anchor and general assignment reporter beginning on June 28. The announcement was made today by WCVB President & General Manager Kyle I. Grimes and News Director Margaret Cronan. Peñate will co-anchor weekend evening newscasts with Shaun Chaiyabhat and will report during the week. Peñate comes to Boston from WFLA/WTTA in Tampa Bay, Florida. Her roles included anchoring English language newscasts on WTTA and WFLA, in addition to anchoring and creating WTTA’s Spanish language newscast “Noticias Tampa Hoy,” where she also served as the newscast’s managing editor. In addition, Peñate was an integral contributor to TampaHoy.com, the station’s Spanish language news website reporting on information important to the Latinx community.“Jennifer is a talented journalist whose experience and values will make her an excellent addition to WCVB,” said Grimes. “She has also been long dedicated to public service having volunteered for numerous nonprofit organizations as well as founding her own focused on mentorship. Jennifer’s journalism excellence combined with her commitment to her community make her a perfect fit for the WCVB team.” “WCVB NewsCenter 5 is proud of its long legacy of journalists who are not only dedicated to providing exceptional news and information to the market, but equally as passionate about public service. Jennifer is an accomplished journalist who is looking forward to putting her energetic storytelling skills to work on the anchor desk and on the streets of our communities. She is an ideal addition to the NewsCenter 5 team, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the WCVB family,” said Cronan.“I am humbled be joining WCVB, one of the most highly regarded television stations in the country,” said Peñate. “I look forward to anchoring the weekend evening news with Shaun as well as contributing to the excellent journalism and impactful public service provided to the community by the Channel 5 team every day.”Peñate spent the last three years as anchor and reporter on WFLA and WTTA where she received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her digital reporting on TampaHoy.com. Before WFLA and WTTA, Peñate spent three years as evening anchor at KNWA in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While at KNWA, she covered stories that garnered national attention like the historic flooding of the Arkansas River that displaced hundreds, the assassination of a local police officer, and chaotic protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Peñate began her career in 2011 as a reporter at KODE in Joplin, Missouri where she earned several awards for her reporting including honors from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. Also, while at KODE, she was named by the Joplin Regional Business Journal as one of the 2016 Most Influential Women.From a young age, Peñate has had a passion for public service and sharing impactful stories that make a difference in the community. As a result, she is a very active volunteer, keynote speaker, event host, and the founder of a nonprofit. In 2015, she created Girls Unstoppable to empower young Latinas through a curriculum that focuses on overcoming obstacles, developing confidence, and higher education.Peñate was born in El Salvador and grew up in both Los Angeles and Northwest Arkansas. She graduated with a Journalism and Spanish degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Peñate is also a member the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Gamma Eta Sorority which was founded at the University of Florida.Outside of work, Peñate is an avid hiker, half-marathon runner, and loves going on adventures with her dog, Tango.About WCVB Channel 5WCVB is Boston’s broadcast/digital media leader, providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms including WCVB Channel 5, wcvb.com, WCVB mobile and MeTV Boston. Founded by community leaders in 1972, WCVB is committed to its mission to serve the region with quality local content. In addition to 47 hours of NewsCenter 5 coverage each week, original offerings include Chronicle, the nation’s longest running local news magazine; CityLine, a weekly urban magazine program; and On The Record, a weekly political roundtable. WCVB, Boston’s ABC affiliate station, is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company whose global holdings include 33 television stations and two radio stations. Follow us on Facebook (wcvb5) and Twitter (@wcvb).About Hearst TelevisionHearst Televisionowns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 22 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programing across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.
Boston, MA – June 26, 2023 – Award-winning journalist Jennifer Peñate will join WCVB Channel 5, Boston’s News and Community Leader, as weekend evening anchor and general assignment reporter beginning on June 28. The announcement was made today by WCVB President & General Manager Kyle I. Grimes and News Director Margaret Cronan. Peñate will co-anchor weekend evening newscasts with Shaun Chaiyabhat and will report during the week.
Peñate comes to Boston from WFLA/WTTA in Tampa Bay, Florida. Her roles included anchoring English language newscasts on WTTA and WFLA, in addition to anchoring and creating WTTA’s Spanish language newscast “Noticias Tampa Hoy,” where she also served as the newscast’s managing editor. In addition, Peñate was an integral contributor to TampaHoy.com, the station’s Spanish language news website reporting on information important to the Latinx community.
“Jennifer is a talented journalist whose experience and values will make her an excellent addition to WCVB,” said Grimes. “She has also been long dedicated to public service having volunteered for numerous nonprofit organizations as well as founding her own focused on mentorship. Jennifer’s journalism excellence combined with her commitment to her community make her a perfect fit for the WCVB team.”
“WCVB NewsCenter 5 is proud of its long legacy of journalists who are not only dedicated to providing exceptional news and information to the market, but equally as passionate about public service. Jennifer is an accomplished journalist who is looking forward to putting her energetic storytelling skills to work on the anchor desk and on the streets of our communities. She is an ideal addition to the NewsCenter 5 team, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the WCVB family,” said Cronan.
“I am humbled be joining WCVB, one of the most highly regarded television stations in the country,” said Peñate. “I look forward to anchoring the weekend evening news with Shaun as well as contributing to the excellent journalism and impactful public service provided to the community by the Channel 5 team every day.”
Peñate spent the last three years as anchor and reporter on WFLA and WTTA where she received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her digital reporting on TampaHoy.com. Before WFLA and WTTA, Peñate spent three years as evening anchor at KNWA in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While at KNWA, she covered stories that garnered national attention like the historic flooding of the Arkansas River that displaced hundreds, the assassination of a local police officer, and chaotic protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Peñate began her career in 2011 as a reporter at KODE in Joplin, Missouri where she earned several awards for her reporting including honors from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. Also, while at KODE, she was named by the Joplin Regional Business Journal as one of the 2016 Most Influential Women.
From a young age, Peñate has had a passion for public service and sharing impactful stories that make a difference in the community. As a result, she is a very active volunteer, keynote speaker, event host, and the founder of a nonprofit. In 2015, she created Girls Unstoppable to empower young Latinas through a curriculum that focuses on overcoming obstacles, developing confidence, and higher education.
Peñate was born in El Salvador and grew up in both Los Angeles and Northwest Arkansas. She graduated with a Journalism and Spanish degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Peñate is also a member the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Gamma Eta Sorority which was founded at the University of Florida.
Outside of work, Peñate is an avid hiker, half-marathon runner, and loves going on adventures with her dog, Tango.
About WCVB Channel 5
WCVB is Boston’s broadcast/digital media leader, providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms including WCVB Channel 5, wcvb.com, WCVB mobile and MeTV Boston. Founded by community leaders in 1972, WCVB is committed to its mission to serve the region with quality local content. In addition to 47 hours of NewsCenter 5 coverage each week, original offerings include Chronicle, the nation’s longest running local news magazine; CityLine, a weekly urban magazine program; and On The Record, a weekly political roundtable. WCVB, Boston’s ABC affiliate station, is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company whose global holdings include 33 television stations and two radio stations. Follow us on Facebook (wcvb5) and Twitter (@wcvb).
About Hearst Television
Hearst Televisionowns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 22 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programing across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.
