Release

JOELLE MARTINEZ NAMED CBS NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF

Joelle Martinez, an award-winning journalist and newsroom leader, has been named CBS News’ West Coast bureau chief. She will oversee the organization’s newsgathering in the western region for all broadcasts and digital platforms. Martinez will begin her new role on April 4 and report to Terri Stewart, senior vice president and national executive editor for CBS News.

Martinez brings to CBS News two decades of journalism experience encompassing 24/7 live breaking news coverage, daily programs and documentaries. Her work has garnered three Emmy Awards and has been a finalist for the prestigious Peabody Award.

Joelle is a passionate leader with a unique blend of experience across network, cable and digital news that will be an excellent addition to our West Coast team,” said Neeraj Khemlani, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations. “She will also bring more immersive storytelling to our enterprise reporting – both live and taped – across all platforms.”

Martinez joins CBS News from Vice News, where she most recently served as deputy bureau chief in Los Angeles. At Vice, Martinez managed a team working across multiple platforms from “Vice News Tonight” on Vice TV to VICE on Showtime, coordinating daily coverage from the western U.S. She also worked closely with correspondents, writers and producers as a senior producer on short-form documentaries. Martinez coordinated Vice News’ breaking news coverage of demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd, political protests in Portland and Seattle, and multiple fire seasons across the West. Previously at Vice, Martinez served as a producer for HBO’s nightly newscast “Vice News Tonight,” where she was responsible for breaking news coverage and longer-lead feature stories around the globe.

Joelle has extensive experience in newsgathering, team management, working in an around-the-clock news operation, and story production,” said Terri Stewart. “Her knowledge of the West Coast region and infectious enthusiasm makes for a strong foundation to drive our bureau forward in our multiplatform world.”

Before Vice, Martinez spent over 12 years at MSNBC in New York. From 2013 to 2016, she was a senior package producer for “All In With Chris Hayes,” where she was responsible for developing, writing and directing the editing of longform specials and original reporting. She also served as an anchor producer, coordinating live shows from locations around the country and the world.

During her tenure at MSNBC, Martinez was a producer for “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Previously, she spent a year as a researcher at “NBC Nightly News.”

Martinez began her career in television in 2002 as part of NBC’s page program.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in broadcasting and mass communication from the State University of New York College at Oswego.

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Press Contact:

Christa Robinson

robinsonc@cbsnews.com

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