Natalie Jacobson was an anchor and reporter for WCVB-TV’s award-winning NewsCenter 5 from 1972 until July 18, 2007.

Jacobson joined WCVB in 1972 as a reporter and became the anchor for its Midday newscast that same year. She became the first woman to anchor an evening newscast in Boston when, in 1976, she began to co-anchor WCVB’s NewsCenter 5 at 6 p.m. By 1978, she was also co-anchoring NewsCenter 5 Tonight at 11 p.m.

For 18 consecutive years, from 1982 to 2000, Jacobson presented the Boston station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts. In September 1994, she added the 5 p.m. newscast to her duties.

In 2007, Jacobson was honored with the Centennial Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in journalism by Suffolk University. She is only the second journalist to receive the honor. The New England Regional Chapter of the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) recognized Jacobson with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

NewsCenter 5 won nearly every top broadcasting honor with Jacobson as an anchor, including several New England Emmys for best newscast and the top awards from the Associated Press and United Press International. In 1990, United Press International honored NewsCenter 5 as having the nation’s top newscast. In 1986, the National Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) awarded Channel 5 the Edward R. Murrow Award for having the best news operation in the country.

Jacobson co-anchored Channel 5's coverage of the 1988 Presidential campaign, which received a first-place National Headliners Award and the top national honor in its category from RTNDA. Jacobson also hosted award-winning Channel 5 public affairs specials, including Somerville High, a probing documentary which won a 1985 Peabody Award, often called the “Pulitzer Prize of Broadcasting.” In addition, she hosted The Spirit and the Flame, a tribute to Special Olympians for which she received a 1984 New England Emmy, and September Song, and hour celebration of a New England autumn.

Jacobson anchored live coverage of virtually all major events broadcast by Channel 5. She will continue to host the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. She anchored annual election night reporting, live coverage at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and reported live from Washington during Presidential inaugurations. She also anchored the station’s live coverage of VIP visits to Boston, such as President Clinton’s 1993 visit, the 1990 visits to the city of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and of First Ladies Barbara Bush and Raisa Gorbachev.

Jacobson has been honored over the years by dozens of Boston-area charitable institutions for her untiring efforts on behalf of those less fortunate. In addition, she is involved in numerous community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Genesis Fund and on the Board of the Scleroderma Research Fund. She is actively involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Salvation Army. In 1992, she was honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews as the recipient of the Institute of Human Relations Community Service Award.

Prior to coming to WCVB, the Chicago native was a producer and public affairs director for WBZ-TV in Boston from 1969 to 1972, producing For Kids Only, Que Pasa? and First Person.

In 1969, Jacobson was the public affairs director for WKBG-TV, now WLVI, in Boston. From 1965 to 1968, she worked as a contract administrator for Philco Ford in Thailand.

Jacobson received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire. She holds honorary doctorates from Babson College, the University of Massachusetts, Curry College and Central New England College, and in 1990, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in journalism by her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire.

Born Natalie Salatich, Jacobson is a licensed pilot and flies for a hobby. She also enjoys tennis, swimming, gardening and cooking, especially Serbian cuisine, a reflection of her own heritage. She resides in Boston, MA.

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