Natalie Martinez
NBC Chicago Emmy Award-winning Reporter

Natalie Martinez joined NBC Chicago as a general assignment reporter in January 2001.
Martinez has covered big stories — like the UAL trial that nearly grounded the nation’s largest carrier — and smaller stories that matter to the “little guy.”
With nearly two decades of reporting and anchoring, she came to NBC Chicago from WXXA-TV, the Fox station in Albany, N.Y. During her final two years Albany, Martinez was the primary anchor.
Prior to her work at WXXA, this award-winning journalist had worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer for several upstate New York television and radio stations.
Natalie is very active and recognized in the Latino community and a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; Hispanic leadership association; and the National Association for Female Executives.
She also does charitable work for LOOKINGLASS and STAR LIGHT/STAR BRITE foundations among many others, and frequently services as Mistress of Ceremonies for groups all over the Chicagoland area. In March 2011, Martinez was named one of Chicago’s Most Influential Women by the I’m Every Woman Expo.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Martinez is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and University of North London on scholarship.
In 2012, she was among the journalists honored with a Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award for her role in covering the verdict in the trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. She was honored with an Emmy Award for her reporting of the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago.
Natalie grew up with a Ukrainian mother and Dominican father. She embraces and appreciates all the diversity that Chicago has to offer, and is a proud supporter of the Ukrainian community as well.
Throughout her childhood and teens, Natalie danced ballet with various dance companies and has a deep-rooted appreciation for the arts. She’s often seen attending or hosting art related events around the city.