Natalie Pasquarella is a familiar face to millions in the tri-state area, delivering the news on WNBC 4 New York. Each night, she is a welcome guest in 6 million homes. But beyond her on-screen presence, Pasquarella is a dedicated journalist, a loving mother, and a community-minded individual. She has covered significant events such as the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the 2015 visit of Pope Francis, the 2016 presidential debates at Hofstra University, the 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump, and the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
A Journalist's Journey
Pasquarella's career began in Steubenville, Ohio, at WTOV-TV, where she honed her skills as a news anchor, reporter, and producer. She then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she worked at WSOC-TV. As an anchor at WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, she produced investigative pieces on human trafficking and heroin, and interviewed then-president Barack Obama. Her talent and dedication have earned her four New York Emmys and (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen award for Favorite Bergen TV/Radio personality.
What sets Pasquarella apart is her ability to connect with people. "Remember, we're people first," she says, a lesson she learned from a veteran reporter in Charlotte. This philosophy guides her interactions, allowing her to build rapport with those she interviews and to present stories with empathy and understanding. Her viewers and colleagues sense her niceness.
An Unexpected Interview
Pasquarella's approach has led to some remarkable opportunities. For example, she just happened to luck into an interview with no less than the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the established Church in England. She wasn't pushing for it. It just happened. "I look and I see a man in a suit standing next to another man in a suit," she recalls. "I said, 'He looks familiar.'"
It was Sept. 12, 2022. Charles III was addressing Parliament for the first time as king. It was a momentous occasion: There was a new sovereign, the U.K. had just lost a previous and beloved one, and the future was uncertain. Pasquarella had crossed Westminster Bridge with her cameraman, heading towards Parliament for some man-in-the-street interviews. That's when she saw a man she almost recognized - but not quite. "I had my backpack on my back and my sneakers on," she says. "And I threw my heels on. That's how fast you have to think on your feet. So I basically said, 'Hello, I work with NBC in New York. This is my photojournalist Dave. Were you by any chance in Parliament?' And then I realized - oh, my - that's the Archbishop of Canterbury. I said, 'Would you mind? Could we get a quick five minutes? Just you speaking on, you know, your relationship with the queen, how you feel about the king taking over?'"The archbishop, it would seem, was disarmed. Perhaps the most powerful clergyman in the U.K. is not used to people walking up and saying hi. "He was gracious," Pasquarella says. "He chatted with us for five minutes. That's a long time when it's an unplanned interview."
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Life in North Jersey
Since 2016, Pasquarella has called North Jersey home. She appreciates the small-town vibe and the warmth of the community. "I just felt a small town vibe in all these little towns that connect to each other in New Jersey," she says. "You drive five minutes, you're in a different town. I really feel the people here are warm, and I love the school that our kids go to. It's so family-friendly."
She's friendly with several families, in particular. "I am lucky to have two good friends and fellow Moms who are my neighbors in Bergen County too," she says. "Both Jen Maxfield and Sarah Wallace are great examples of excellent journalists and mothers making it all happen while still giving back to their communities."
Local Favorites
Pasquarella and her family enjoy exploring the local area. For family outings, they often visit Van Saun County Park in Paramus. "I know Van Saun Park is not undiscovered, but it's just the best, we love it," she says. "The zoo. The train. The carousel. And recently my sister was in, at Christmas time in December, and we went with my nieces to the Winter Wonderland. It was really fun."
When it comes to food, the family enjoys Blue Moon Mexican Restaurant in Englewood, Lolita's Mexican Cantina in Westwood, and Dimora Ristorante & Bar in Norwood. For cooking at home, Pasquarella relies on B&M Meat Market in Park Ridge. And for dessert, she heads to Patisserie Florentine in Closter, Keremo Cakes in Cresskill, and La Promenade in Tenafly.
Pizza holds a special place in Pasquarella's heart. "Funny enough, my dad had a pizza shop when I was a kid in Ohio," she says. Carmine & Ray's Pizza in Closter does a thin Margherita-style pizza that reminds her a bit of home.
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Balancing Work and Family
Pasquarella's job as a human being is inextricably wound up with her job as a reporter. So much so that, on a typical day, it's hard to make out where one ends and the other begins. "I go to bed late," she says. She'll take a quick glance at the news feed to make sure one of the royals isn't expecting or the Earth hasn't gone off its axis. Then oatmeal. "My husband will help me with the breakfast," she says. "He's more day-side than I am, so when he's in town he'll help me with the kids in the morning."
The kids are Jamin, 5 - named after his dad - and Jada, 3. "My daughter is still half-day, which is great, because I get that time with her when I pick her up," she says. "But my son, being 5 now, he is a full-day. So we have that time together in the morning when we get ready for school. Any projects, any little show-and-tell they have to bring in. And then I really cherish that little car ride to school, because that's my time with both of them - especially my son."
At 9, she'll dig into the day's news stories for perhaps a half-hour over coffee. Then she'll call her mom, call her sister, perhaps go to the gym (Impact Zone in Norwood). Midday, she'll pick up her daughter, have lunch, put her down for her nap. "That's kind of our time," she says.
Then she'll shower, get dressed, and drive across the GWB to 30 Rock. Jamin, the 5-year-old, will get picked up later. "I'm at work by 2:30," she says. "Then it's all systems go." She gets her hair done, does her own makeup. newscast with David Ushery. She touches base with her producers, reads her script. Which is followed, Wednesday through Friday, by yet another broadcast, at 7. Break for dinner. FaceTime the kids goodnight. news.
Broadcasting from Home During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pasquarella, like many on-air personalities, broadcasted from home. "My setup was in our guest room," she says. "We had the cameras hooked up, but we didn't have anybody running it. We had the blue backdrop to make it look, you know, similar to the station. And then we basically turned it on ourselves. We put it into focus. We could talk to the control room. I had an earpiece."
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While the arrangement allowed her to spend more time with her children, it also presented challenges. "He would run down the hall during the broadcast," she says of her son.
Pasquarella is grateful for the extra time at home because, as she said, she misses dinner and bedtime when working nights. It was awesome to be able to kiss my kids good night during the week and tuck them in.
Covering Difficult Stories
The pandemic was a challenging time for journalists. Pasquarella covered stories of healthcare heroes, mothers who were disproportionately affected, and racial disparities in healthcare.
"I cannot remember a more intense year of news in my 16-year career-covering the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the fight for racial equality and an election like no other," she says. "The stories that deeply impacted me were the healthcare heroes who sacrificed so much to keep everyone else safe. I remember being in awe of the frontline workers who had to leave their own families every day to fight this unrelenting virus. I’m so grateful for them."
She also covered the George Floyd social justice protests and the 2021 Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade. "To me, that was so joyous," she says "We were all just able to thank the city, all the workers who sacrificed so much to keep us safe."
Giving Back to the Community
Pasquarella is actively involved in local charity work. She has worked with March of Dimes, The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and the Jericho Project (aid for the homeless).
"I’ve always been a supporter of the work that March of Dimes does, hosting events throughout my career for them even before I was a mother," she says. "But when my son came early and we had a relatively brief stay in the NICU, I felt the importance of their work even more."
Finding Time for Herself
Pasquarella recognizes the importance of self-care. "For me, it’s as simple as taking a solo drive for a bit while turning up my favorite music," she says. "I love R&B and hip hop and it always puts a smile on my face. The drives clear my head. Workouts, even if only 30 minutes, always feel good. When I carve out that time, I feel great. On the weekends, I try really hard to get the kids in bed on time so I get some quiet time to myself."
From Ohio to New York
Pasquarella's journey from Steubenville, Ohio, to New York City is a testament to her hard work and talent. She credits her upbringing in a close-knit Italian/Lebanese family for shaping her values.
"Big family dinners, playing outside all hours of the day and summer swims at our local community pool," she recalls. "We grew up right down the street from my grandparents so we were always running back and forth from their house. My mom is the oldest of 11 children so we were always around a lot of family. While we didn’t ever go on big family vacations there was always a lot going on locally in the Ohio Valley area."
One of her formative moments was when the D.A.R.E. program came to her school with a news team. Pasquarella, then a fifth grader, was interviewed by a local reporter. "I remember her interviewing me, and I thought, 'That'd be a really great job,' " she says.
After graduating from Kent State University, Pasquarella interned at NY1 News in New York.
A Memorable Moment
Pasquarella's dedication to her work is evident in a memorable moment that occurred at the end of one of her broadcasts.
"I felt something odd at the end of the newscast," she recalls. "I kind of waited until everybody left the studio. Our audio staffer was there, and I said, 'I think my water broke.' My executive producer Keith, he helped me downstairs, and I had a car waiting outside. So the driver takes me and the producer to the hospital - Lenox Hill - and then… We all remember exactly where we were when we went into labor with our kids.
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