NECN|NBC10 Boston serves the New England area and covers local, national, international, political, entertainment, business, sports, and weather news.
While NECN is famous for its news coverage, the on-air staff, specifically the news anchors, help put the channel on the map.
Below is a look at these news anchors and some interesting things about them.
1. Darren Botelho
Darren Botelho is a reporter and weekend evening anchor for NECN. Before that, he worked at several stations, such as WLNE ABC6, WFTS-TV, Sinclair Broadcast Group, KLFY TV 10, and NASDAQ QMX.
He attended the University of Maryland, graduating with a BA in Journalism, and later attained an MBA from Clemson University.
While at college, he worked as an intern for CNN and NPR and as a production assistant for C-SPAN.
Botelho has made a name for himself as a journalist by covering major national stories.
Some of his top reporting work includes covering the arrest of Todd Kohlhepp (a serial killer), the Charleston church shooting, and the 2015 South Carolina floods.
2. Colton Bradford
Colton Bradford is a news anchor for NECN |NBC10 Boston. Before joining the anchor desk, he hosted the station’s lifestyle show, The Hub Today.
Bradford’s interest in broadcasting started at a young age; he worked on the radio when he was 16 in his hometown in Alabama.
He then attended the University of South Alabama, where he majored in broadcast journalism.
While in college, he co-hosted Student Voice Live and appeared as a youth correspondent on NBC’s Education Nation.
Bradford is gay and dating Alexander Van Gurp, a social media influencer.
3. Priscilla Casper
Priscilla Casper has been an anchor at NECN |NBC10 Boston since 2022. She has also worked for other media outlets, such as KVOA-TV and KGUN-TV9.
She graduated from the University of Southern California with a broadcast and digital journalism degree.
While in college, she interned for the Los Angeles Business Journal, Maximo TV, KCBS/KCAL, Entertainment Tonight, CNBC, and Annenberg News.
Priscilla Casper is an award-winning journalist who has received several regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for her reporting.
She has covered breaking news and major events, such as field coverage of wildfires and the COVID-19 outbreak in Southern Arizona.
4. Latoyia Edwards
Latoyia Edwards is a news anchor at NECN and host of the show This is New England. Before that, she worked for other stations such as WWLP-22, WICZ-TV 40, MediaOne cable News, and WILD 1090 AM radio.
A native of Boston, she attended Emerson College and graduated with a broadcast journalism degree.
Her first job in the media was as a news writer for WBZ 1030AM before she moved on to other opportunities.
Edwards has made a name for herself as a reporter for her passion coverage of health issues, especially women’s health.
Other highlights of her career include moderating political debates, one-on-one exclusive interviews, and field-anchoring newscasts.
On top of her successful journalism career, she is married and has two children.
5. Glenn Jones
Glenn Jones joined NECN | NBC10 Boston in 2021 as a reporter and news anchor. He has also worked for other news networks like WBBH-TV and Fox Television.
A native of Bermuda, Jones attended Emerson College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
He is a talented journalist who has received a Boston/New England Emmy Award for his exceptional work as a reporter.
Besides being a reporter, he has held several other roles away from the media industry, including being the press secretary for Bermuda’s government.
Before joining NECN, he was the Chief Experience Officer and the interim CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
Glenn Jones is also married and is the father to a stepson.
6. Natalie Lizarraga
Natalie Lizarraga is a news anchor at NECN |NBC10 Boston. Before that, she worked for stations like KTLA, Sinclair Broadcast Group, HipHollywood.com, and CBS.
She attended Loyola Marymount University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in television production. Later, she attained a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Miami.
She started her career as an entertainment journalist for CBS Television and Entertainment Tonight.
During this time, she covered red carpet premieres, movie junkets, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the Super Bowl, the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards, and ESPYs.
Natalie Lizarraga is married to Tim Caputo, a KABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News reporter in Los Angeles.
7. Monica Madeja
Monica Madeja is an assignment reporter and fill-in anchor at NECN. Before that, she worked for other news stations, such as WBRE-TV/WYOU-TV, KRCG TV, and WDEL 1150 AM.
She attended Temple University and graduated with a BA in broadcast journalism. While in college, she also worked as a desk assistant at KYW Newsradio.
During her journalism career, she has covered major stories, such as reporting on the Pennsylvania floods, earning her an Emmy nomination.
Other highlights include covering the Boston Marathon, Super Bowl LII, and the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.
Monica Madeja is married to Douglas Armitage, a sculpture artist, and they have a son together.
8. Raul Martinez
Raul Martinez is the morning anchor for NECN |NBC10 Boston. Before that, he was the station’s sports director and worked for other stations, such as KDVR-FOX31 Denver and KVIA-TV.
Raul attended Texas Christian University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in journalism. He later attained a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University.
For most of his journalism career, he has specialized in covering sports.
Some of his highlights include covering the Patriots in the Super Bowls, the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series, the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final, and the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Martinez is married to Rachael Abell, a former KVIA reporter turned photographer. The couple has three children, two daughters and a son.
9. Lauren Melendez
Lauren Melendez is the breaking news reporter and weekend news anchor at NECN. He previously worked for other media outlets, such as WOWT NBC Omaha, WEEK-TV, and KCAU Chanel 9.
She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in communication and rhetoric and, later, a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism.
While doing her master’s, she was heavily involved in the university’s NCC News and SU News, where she worked as an anchor, field reporter, producer, and director.
She also worked as a social media strategist intern for NewsChannel 9 WSYR in New York.
Melendez made a name for herself as an investigative journalist and has received an AP award for investigative reporting.
Other career highlights include moderating political panels, interviewing congressmen, and covering racial and diversity issues.
10. Melody Mendez
Melody Mendez is a reporter and anchor at NECN |NBC10 Boston. She has also worked at various stations, such as WFLD Fox Television, KDVR-FOX31, KOMO TV, and WCID-TV.
She attended Boston University and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.
She then landed her first job in the media as an anchor and reporter for WBBJ TV in Jackson, Tennessee, and she has not looked back.
As an anchor and reporter for nearly twenty years, she has covered several major local, national, and international stories.
The top ones include covering Hurricane Katrina and the Colorado theatre shooting, interviewing the Mexican president, and interviewing celebrities and athletes.
Melody Mendez is married and is the mother to one child, a son.
11. JC Monahan
JC Monahan is the evening news anchor for NECN |NBC10 Boston. Before that, she worked as an anchor, host, and meteorologist at WCVB-TV.
She attended the University of Maine and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. She also studied broadcast meteorology at Mississippi State University.
Monahan has covered several major stories during her career, such as the Boston Marathon bombing, the Super Bowl in Minnesota, and the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Due to her work, she has received a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
Besides her journalism career, she is also an outspoken mental health advocate. In 2021, she spoke to Boston Magazine about her struggles with depression and nearly overdosing on Xanax pills.
JC Monahan married Jim Farrell, a director at WGHB radio station, before divorcing in 2017. They have two children together, daughters Catherine and Victoria Farrell.
12. Jeff Saperstone
Jeff Saperstone is a reporter and morning news anchor at NECN and NBC10 Boston. He previously worked as a political reporter for NBC Connecticut and as an anchor and reporter at WXXA FOX23.
He attended Ithaca College and the Roy H. Park School of Communications, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
After college, he joined NECN as a weekend meteorologist before moving to WCVB-TV.
Saperstone has covered several big stories over the years, such as the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting, the Congressional baseball shooting in Virginia, Donald Trump’s indictment, and Pope Francis’ visit to the United States.
He is also an award-winning journalist who won the New England Emmy Award for his special reporting on the troubles facing the Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority.
Cory Smith is an investigative reporter and anchor for NBC10 Boston. He previously worked for other stations, such as NBC Washington, KXAS-TV, KSAT 12 TV, and Kansas First News.
He attended Northwestern University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. While in college, he participated in a study abroad program and attended Queen Mary University of London.
After college, he worked as an instructor and Northwestern University and then worked briefly as a video production manager before landing his first job in the media at Kansas First News.
Smith is an award-winning journalist who won multiple Emmy Awards for covering the 2020 George Floyd protests and the January 6 Insurrection.
He also won an Emmy Award and a national Edward R. Murrow for his live reporting of the lone gunman ambushing Dallas police officers.
Cory Smith lives in Bosting with his wife, Kate. They have a child, a cat, and a dog.