Paula Ebben: The Story of an Award-Winning Journalist

aula Ebben has built a respected career in American broadcast journalism through decades of reporting, anchoring, and special-event coverage. As a longtime WBZ-TV journalist in Boston, she has covered major breaking-news events, presidential conventions, international stories, community issues, and some of the biggest moments in New England sports.

Her career stands out because she combines local journalism with national and international reporting. From her early work in Worcester to her current role with WBZ News Mornings and CBS News Boston, Ebben has continued to evolve with the changing television-news industry.

Beyond her work on television, Ebben has also earned major journalism honors and contributed to community organizations. Her professional journey offers an interesting look at how a Massachusetts journalist developed into one of Boston’s familiar news personalities.

Paula Ebben Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Full Name	Paula Ebben
Profession	Journalist and news anchor
Known For	WBZ-TV and CBS News Boston
Hometown	Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Education	Boston College
Degree	Bachelor of Arts in English
Graduation	Cum laude
WBZ Career	Joined in 2002
Current Role	Co-anchor, WBZ News Mornings
Co-anchor	Chris Tanaka
Major Honors	Peabody Award and Columbia duPont Award
Family	Husband Bill and four children

Who Is Paula Ebben?

Paula Ebben is an American television journalist who has spent much of her professional life reporting for audiences in Massachusetts. She joined WBZ-TV in 2002 after working as an anchor and reporter at New England Cable News and WGMC-TV in Worcester.

Her career has covered a wide range of subjects. She has reported on breaking news, education, community issues, politics, international events, and major sports celebrations. That variety has helped establish her as more than a traditional news presenter.

Today, Ebben continues to work across WBZ’s television and streaming platforms. Her current position reflects the changing nature of local broadcasting, where journalists increasingly appear across television, digital articles, streaming services, and online video.

Growing Up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Ebben is a Central Massachusetts native who grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Boston College’s profile of its journalism alumni describes her as the youngest of 11 siblings and the sixth member of her family to attend Boston College.

Her Massachusetts roots later became an important part of her professional identity. Although her career took her to major events around the United States and abroad, she continued to focus heavily on stories affecting people in New England.

Growing up in a large family also gave Ebben an early connection to communication and community. In a Boston College interview, she recalled that her mother noticed her interest in news when she was a teenager. Ebben eventually turned that interest into a long-term career in television journalism.

Discovering an Interest in Journalism

Ebben’s interest in journalism began during her teenage years. She has recalled watching television journalists and becoming fascinated by the fact that they seemed to be present wherever important events happened.

That early curiosity eventually became a professional goal. Instead of simply watching the news, Ebben wanted to become part of the process of reporting and explaining events to an audience.

Her approach later became particularly valuable during breaking-news situations. Journalism often requires reporters to absorb large amounts of information quickly, verify details, and explain developments clearly. Ebben’s career shows how that early interest developed into practical newsroom experience.

Education at Boston College

Ebben attended Boston College, where she studied English and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Her liberal-arts education became an important part of her approach to journalism. Rather than focusing only on technical broadcasting skills, her studies gave her a broader foundation for understanding people, history, culture, and society.

Boston College later highlighted Ebben’s view that subjects across a liberal-arts education can help journalists explain what a story means and why audiences should care about it.

That philosophy fits the nature of her career. A television journalist needs to do more than deliver facts. The strongest reporting also provides context and helps viewers understand how an event affects their communities.

Beginning Her Broadcasting Career

Before joining WBZ-TV, Ebben worked in Massachusetts television news. CBS identifies WGMC-TV in Worcester as one of her early employers, followed by New England Cable News, where she worked as an anchor and reporter.

These early positions gave her experience with local reporting and live television. Local news can require journalists to cover a broad range of subjects, often with limited time and resources.

That experience prepared Ebben for the larger Boston television market. By the time she moved to WBZ-TV, she had already developed the reporting and anchoring skills needed to work in one of the country’s major media markets.

Joining WBZ-TV

Ebben joined WBZ-TV in 2002, beginning what would become the longest and most recognizable chapter of her professional career.

Over the years, she took on a variety of responsibilities at the station. Her work included anchoring newscasts, reporting special stories, covering education, and contributing to major breaking-news coverage.

Her longevity at WBZ also reflects her ability to adapt. Television news has changed considerably since 2002, with audiences now consuming information through traditional broadcasts, websites, mobile devices, and streaming platforms.

From Local Stories to Major Assignments

Although Ebben built her reputation in Boston, her career eventually took her far beyond Massachusetts. CBS reports that she covered the 2011 Royal Wedding in London for CBS stations across the United States.

She also reported from Democratic and Republican National Conventions, New Hampshire presidential primaries, the canonization of popes in Rome, and Pope Francis’s 2015 visit to the United States.

These assignments gave her experience with stories that attracted national and international attention. They also demonstrated the trust her network placed in her ability to report from high-profile events.

Paula Ebben: The Story of an Award-Winning Journalist

Building Her Career Before WBZ

Before Paula Ebben became a familiar face on WBZ-TV, she developed her journalism experience at local and regional news organizations. She worked as an anchor and reporter at WGMC-TV in Worcester before moving to New England Cable News, where she continued building her broadcasting career.

Those early positions gave Ebben valuable experience covering local stories and connecting with audiences. Local television journalism often requires reporters to handle everything from breaking news to community features, and those experiences helped prepare her for a much larger market.

Joining WBZ-TV

Ebben joined WBZ-TV in 2002, beginning a long chapter with the Boston station. Over the following years, she became one of the station’s recognizable anchors and reporters.

Her role expanded beyond presenting scheduled newscasts. She reported on major developments, contributed to special coverage, and traveled for important national and international events. Her longevity at WBZ also reflects her ability to adapt as television news changed.

Coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings

One of the most significant moments in Ebben’s career came in 2013, when the Boston Marathon bombings created a major breaking-news story in her home region. Ebben and the WBZ-TV team provided extensive coverage as Boston faced the attack and the subsequent manhunt.

The team’s reporting earned two of journalism’s most respected honors: a 2013 Peabody Award and a 2014 Columbia duPont Award. CBS identifies both awards as part of WBZ-TV’s team coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Boston College also highlighted Ebben’s role in the coverage and noted that the team focused on providing facts without sensationalism during an extremely difficult period.

Reporting From Major International Events

Ebben’s career has taken her beyond Massachusetts. CBS reports that she covered the 2011 Royal Wedding in London, reporting for CBS stations across the United States. She also covered presidential conventions, New Hampshire primaries, the canonization of popes in Rome, and Pope Francis’s 2015 visit to the United States.

These assignments demonstrate the range of her journalism career. Local television anchors do not always receive opportunities to cover major international events, but Ebben’s experience eventually included stories with national and global audiences.

Interviewing Michelle Obama

Another notable assignment involved an interview with former first lady Michelle Obama at the White House. The interview added another high-profile moment to Ebben’s growing list of national assignments.

For a television journalist, interviews with major public figures require preparation, confidence, and the ability to ask questions that serve viewers. Ebben’s work with prominent figures became part of the broader career she built at WBZ.

Reporting on New England Stories

Despite her international assignments, Ebben has remained strongly connected to New England journalism. CBS continues to feature her reporting on Massachusetts communities, local history, education, social issues, and regional events.

That local connection remains an important part of her professional identity. Rather than focusing only on national headlines, she regularly brings attention to people and stories across Massachusetts.

Recognition From the Journalism Industry

Ebben has received recognition from several journalism organizations throughout her career. CBS lists a regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting in 2005 among her honors. She has also received Boston/New England Emmy nominations in categories including Anchor, Reporter, Consumer Reporter, Education Series, and Writing.

She later won a regional Emmy for reporting on a WBZ special about the Merrimack Valley gas explosions. These recognitions show that her work has extended beyond traditional anchoring into reporting and storytelling.

Her Role in WBZ’s Morning News

Ebben’s role at WBZ has continued to evolve. In 2024, WBZ announced that she would join Chris Tanaka as co-anchor of its revamped morning newscast. The new team began on June 17, 2024.

CBS currently identifies Ebben as a co-anchor of WBZ News Mornings with Chris Tanaka. She also anchors for CBS News Boston’s streaming service and contributes reports across the station’s newscasts.

A Career Built on Versatility

One of the strongest themes in Ebben’s career is versatility. She has worked as a reporter, anchor, interviewer, and special-event correspondent. Her assignments have ranged from community stories in Massachusetts to major international events.

That range has helped her remain relevant through changing television-news formats. Viewers can encounter her through traditional broadcasts, streaming news, special reports, and digital content from CBS Boston.

Part 3

Paula Ebben’s Life Outside the Newsroom

Although Ebben maintains a public professional profile, she has kept much of her personal life relatively private. CBS reports that she lives in the Greater Boston area with her husband, Bill, and that they have four children.

Her family life provides another dimension to her career. Broadcasting often involves demanding schedules, breaking-news assignments, and early-morning or evening shifts. Maintaining a family life alongside a long television career requires considerable organization and commitment.

Her Connection to Boston College

Boston College played an important role in Ebben’s education and professional development. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

The university later profiled Ebben as one of its successful broadcast-journalism graduates. In that profile, she explained how her liberal-arts education helped her approach journalism by giving her tools for understanding stories and explaining why they matter to viewers.

Her Massachusetts Roots

Ebben grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, in Central Massachusetts. Boston College describes her as the youngest of 11 siblings and notes that she became the sixth member of her family to attend the college.

Her Massachusetts roots have remained visible throughout her career. Even after covering stories around the country and internationally, she continued to work extensively on New England stories. That connection gives her reporting a strong understanding of the communities she serves.

Community Involvement

Ebben’s work extends beyond television journalism. CBS identifies her as a member of the Board of Directors of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a Boston organization that helps homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. She also supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Her community involvement reflects another side of her public career. Journalism often connects broadcasters with nonprofit organizations and community causes, and Ebben has used some of her public platform to support organizations working in Massachusetts.

Covering Sports and Championship Celebrations

Boston’s sports culture has also provided Ebben with memorable assignments. CBS notes that she has co-anchored championship parades for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots.

These events allowed her to step outside the traditional newsroom and participate in celebrations that carried enormous significance for Boston sports fans. They also demonstrate the variety of assignments that can become part of a long television career.

A Journalist Who Embraces Different Stories

Ebben’s reporting portfolio includes hard news, education, community stories, sports, consumer reporting, and major national events. Her work does not fit into one narrow category.

CBS’s recent coverage continues to show this range. Her reporting has included Massachusetts history, local businesses, education, community organizations, and interviews with people making news across the region.

This variety remains one of her strongest professional characteristics. It allows her to move between serious breaking news and lighter community features without losing the journalistic foundation that has defined her career.

Paula Ebben’s Approach to Journalism

Ebben has spoken about the importance of explaining not only what happened but also why a story matters. Her Boston College profile emphasized the value of understanding a story and communicating its meaning clearly to viewers.

That approach can help explain her longevity in television news. Audiences often need more than a list of facts. They want context, relevance, and a clear explanation of how an event affects their community.

Why Paula Ebben Remains a Recognizable News Anchor

After more than two decades in broadcast journalism, Ebben remains an established presence in Boston television news. Her long association with WBZ, extensive reporting experience, major-event coverage, and award recognition have helped define her professional reputation.

Her current position with WBZ News Mornings and CBS News Boston also shows how her career continues to evolve. She has moved from traditional local broadcasting into a media environment that now includes streaming and digital platforms.

What Makes Her Career Stand Out?

Paula Ebben’s career stands out because she has successfully combined local journalism with national and international reporting. She has covered major tragedies, political events, religious ceremonies, royal events, sports celebrations, and everyday Massachusetts stories.

Her career also demonstrates the value of consistency. Ebben joined WBZ in 2002 and continued to develop her role over the years. Her transition into the station’s morning-news team represents another chapter in a career that continues to adapt to the changing television landscape.

Conclusion

Paula Ebben has built a remarkable career through more than two decades of television journalism. From her early work in Worcester and at New England Cable News to her long-running role at WBZ-TV, she has developed into one of Boston’s recognizable news professionals.

Her career includes coverage of some of the most important stories of the past two decades. The Boston Marathon bombings brought her team major journalism honors, while assignments such as the 2011 Royal Wedding, presidential conventions, Pope Francis’s U.S. visit, and White House interviews expanded her professional reach.

Today, Ebben continues to work with WBZ News Mornings and CBS News Boston. Her story is ultimately about more than television visibility. It is about a Massachusetts journalist who built a lasting career through reporting, adaptability, community connection, and a commitment to explaining important stories to her audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Paula Ebben?

Paula Ebben is an American award-winning television journalist and news anchor. She currently co-anchors WBZ News Mornings and also works with CBS News Boston.

Where does Paula Ebben work?

Ebben works for WBZ-TV and CBS News Boston. She currently co-anchors WBZ News Mornings with Chris Tanaka.

When did Paula Ebben join WBZ?

Paula Ebben joined WBZ-TV in 2002. Before that, she worked at New England Cable News and WGMC-TV in Worcester.

What awards has Paula Ebben won?

Her journalism honors include a 2013 Peabody Award and a 2014 Columbia duPont Award as part of WBZ-TV’s team coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. She also received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award in 2005.

Where did Paula Ebben go to college?

Ebben graduated cum laude from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in English.

Where is Paula Ebben from?

She is a Central Massachusetts native who grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Is Paula Ebben married?

Yes. CBS reports that Ebben and her husband, Bill, live in the Greater Boston area and have four children.

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