NBC 5 names Vince Lattanzio as news director

Award-winning journalist joins Jose Carlos Perez, who took similar reins at sister station WSNS 

NBC-owned WMAQ-TV (NBC 5) announced Wednesday the hiring of multimedia award-winning journalist Vince Lattanzio as the station’s news director, starting Monday. He succeeds Akemi Harrison, who exited the station last year for the same position at Nexstar’s WGN-TV. 

“Vince has distinguished himself as one of our industry’s most respected multimedia leaders, backed by a proven record of success and national recognition. His leadership, strategic vision, and energy will be a tremendous asset to the NBC 5 Chicago newsroom team”, said Sally Ramirez, the Senior Vice President for News at NBC 5 and sister Spanish station WSNS-TV (Telemundo Chicago.)

Lattanzio will oversee the newsroom’s day-to-day operations, including its investigative and consumer units, and political coverage of this year’s elections. He will also work with the station’s digital team and collaberate with WSNS leadership to maximize coverage and editorial impact across both stations. 

Last month, WSNS promoted Jose Carlos Perez to the station’s new news director, from the assistant news director position he held at WMAQ and WSNS for the last two years. “José Carlos is a proven newsroom leader who brings both hands‑on experience and strategic vision to this role,” Ramirez said. “His deep understanding of and compassion for Chicago’s diverse population make him the ideal person to guide our talented Telemundo Chicago newsroom team.” A two-decade veteran, Perez spent eleven years at Telemundo’s WSCV Miami and also worked in Dallas and San Antonio. 

Lattanzio arrives from sister NBC-owned station WRC-TV and Telemundo’s WZDC-TV Washington D.C., where he served as the director of the duopoly’s digital media department from 2021 to 2025. There, he oversaw strategic content development and execution across the duopoly’s fifteen multimedia platforms, including both linear TV channels and social media channels. 

Prior to his time at WRC/WZDC, Lattanzio spent thirteen years at another NBC/Telemundo duopoly, WCAU/WWSI Philadelphia, where he cut his digital chops. He also served as an on-air reporter and producer, and became a leader in the then-emerging world of digital, becoming the first multiplatform journalist in NBC’s group of stations, appearing on both linear and digital platforms and shaping WCAU’s digital vision. 

Lattanzio has been recognized by several organizations, including the National Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS), Thr Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), and the Associated Press (AP). His report on the heoric epidemic called Generation Addicated, earned an Emmy and a Edward R. Murrow Award. He also named a Livingston Awards finalist for reporting.