Who Is Paula Ebben?

Paula Ebben is an Emmy Award-winning American broadcast journalist and news anchor who has served WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts, since December 2002. Born on November 9, 1966, in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, she is one of New England’s most recognized and respected television news personalities. Currently co-anchoring WBZ News Mornings alongside Chris Tanaka, Paula is also an anchor for CBS News Boston and contributes reporting across all WBZ newscasts, including the long-running “Eye on Education” series. Her career spans more than two decades of distinguished broadcast journalism, marked by a Peabody Award, a Columbia DuPont Award, multiple Emmy nominations and wins, and an Edward R. Murrow Award — making her one of the most decorated local journalists in the region.

Early Life and Background

Paula Ebben was born and raised in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a town in Central Massachusetts that profoundly shaped her community-first approach to journalism. She comes from a large family and is among the youngest of eleven children. Growing up in such a large household equipped her with exceptional communication instincts, empathy, and an ability to connect with people from all walks of life — qualities that would later define her on-screen presence and reporting style.

Her parents, Dr. Bob Blute and Anne Marie, emphasized hard work and education throughout her upbringing, values that stayed central to Paula’s personal and professional life. Her childhood in Shrewsbury gave her an authentic connection to Massachusetts communities that viewers have recognized and appreciated throughout her career.

Education: Notre Dame Academy and Boston College

Paula attended Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, graduating in 1985 with honors. She then enrolled at Boston College, where she studied English and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1989, graduating cum laude.

At Boston College, Paula was far more than a dedicated student. She was an active member of the Boston College Dramatics Society and the University Chorale of Boston College, demonstrating a natural affinity for performance, communication, and public expression. These extracurricular experiences gave her the poise and vocal confidence that would serve her well in broadcast journalism. It was also during her time at Boston College that she met her future husband, Bill Ebben.

Career Beginnings: Worcester and NECN

Paula Ebben launched her broadcasting career in November 2001 when she joined WGMC-TV Charter Communications in Worcester as a reporter and anchor. Between July 2002 and December 2002, she worked as an anchor and reporter for New England Cable News (NECN).

These early career roles gave her a grounding in the day-to-day demands of live television news — writing scripts under deadline, conducting field reports, managing breaking news developments, and building the reliable editorial instincts that would carry her to WBZ-TV. Her relatively swift progression from local Worcester television to a major CBS affiliate reflects both her talent and her work ethic.

WBZ-TV: Over Two Decades as Boston’s Trusted Anchor

Joining WBZ-TV in 2002

Before joining WBZ-TV in 2002, Ebben previously worked as an anchor and reporter at New England Cable News. Before joining NECN, Ebben was an anchor and reporter at WGMC-TV in Worcester, MA. When she joined WBZ-TV in December 2002, she stepped into a platform with one of the largest audiences in New England — and she has served that audience with consistency and integrity ever since.

Transition to WBZ News Mornings

CBS Boston’s WBZ-TV’s longtime evening anchor Paula Ebben joined WBZ News Mornings in June 2024 alongside co-anchor Chris Tanaka, ahead of a revamp of its morning show. The new show introduced exclusive content, bringing segments such as “Question Everything” to the morning lineup.

This transition from evening anchor to morning co-anchor represented a significant career milestone, demonstrating WBZ-TV’s confidence in Paula as one of its most versatile and bankable on-air talents. The morning show revamp also added a “Talk of the Table” segment featuring discussions on trending topics and local stories, with Paula at the center of that editorial conversation.

Eye on Education: A Signature Series

One of Paula Ebben’s most enduring professional contributions at WBZ-TV is her work on the “Eye on Education” series. This long-form reporting segment examines issues facing schools and students across New England, covering topics ranging from classroom inequality and literacy challenges to school safety and educational innovation. The series reflects Paula’s genuine interest in community service and public welfare, and it has earned her multiple Emmy nominations in the Education Series category. It remains one of the most recognized recurring journalism segments among WBZ viewers.

Major Career Highlights and Assignments

Paula Ebben’s career has taken her far beyond the Boston studio. Her assignments have covered some of the most significant news events of the past two decades.

She has reported from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, she interviewed First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, reported from the Canonization of the Popes in Rome, and covered the three-city visit of Pope Francis to the United States.

In 2011, she was chosen to report for all CBS stations from The 2011 Royal Wedding in London, England, a remarkable distinction that reflected her standing as one of the most trusted on-air journalists in the CBS network at that time.

She also co-anchored several Championship Parades for the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics, anchoring milestone celebrations for the city’s beloved sports teams and sharing those moments with millions of New England viewers.

Covering the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing

The defining moment of Paula Ebben’s career came with WBZ-TV’s coverage of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. In 2013, Ebben and her team kept Bostonians informed after two homemade bombs were detonated at the marathon finish line, prompting a city-wide manhunt. The team was later awarded a Columbia DuPont Award and a Peabody Award, two of the industry’s highest honors.

This coverage required Paula and her colleagues to deliver accurate, calm, and authoritative reporting during one of the most traumatic events in Boston’s modern history. The combination of journalistic rigor and compassion she demonstrated during that period earned widespread praise from colleagues, viewers, and industry observers alike.

Awards and Honors

Paula Ebben’s two-decade-plus career has been recognized by the journalism industry’s most prestigious institutions. Her awards record stands as a testament to the breadth and quality of her reporting across news categories.

During her two-decade broadcast career, Ebben has received a 2014 Columbia DuPont Award and a 2013 Peabody Award as part of WBZ-TV’s team coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings. She has been nominated for multiple Boston/New England Emmy Awards for Anchor, Reporter, Consumer Reporter, Education Series and for Writing, and won for Reporter in a WBZ Special on the Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions. In 2005, Ebben was awarded a regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting.

Her Instagram profile confirms a 3x Emmy winner, Murrow Award recipient, and a Peabody and duPont-Columbia Award recipient as part of the WBZ-TV news team. These honors collectively place her among the most decorated local broadcast journalists in New England history.

Each award category tells a different story about her skills. The Peabody Award honors journalism that serves the public interest at the highest level. The Columbia DuPont Award recognizes excellence in electronic journalism. The Edward R. Murrow Award is among the most respected honors in broadcast reporting. The Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement across anchoring, reporting, writing, and specialty series. Paula has competed and won across all of these categories.

Physical Appearance and On-Screen Presence

Paula maintains a professional appearance that complements her role as a television journalist, standing at 5 feet 6 inches with blonde hair and distinctive blue eyes that viewers have come to recognize. Her physical presence, combined with her warm demeanor, has made her a trusted figure in Boston households for years.

Her presentation style is defined by clarity, composure, and an ability to communicate complex developments in accessible language. Whether covering a breaking emergency, conducting a political interview, or anchoring a championship parade, she brings a consistent level of professionalism that viewers have come to rely on over more than two decades.

Personal Life: Husband and Family

Marriage to Bill Ebben

Paula Ebben is married to her husband Bill Ebben. The couple first met while they were both students at Boston College and got married after their graduation. Bill Ebben is described as having a career in advertising and marketing, and his professional background in media-adjacent industries means he understands the demands of Paula’s high-profile role.

Their relationship, which began in their college years and has endured through the pressures of a prominent journalism career, is widely described as a partnership of mutual respect and shared values. Bill is known to be supportive of Paula’s professional commitments while maintaining a preference for personal privacy away from the media spotlight.

Children and Family Life

Ebben and her husband Bill reside in the Greater Boston area. They have four children. Paula has spoken openly about the challenge and reward of balancing a demanding morning broadcast schedule — which requires her to be at work in the early hours of the morning — with the responsibilities of family life.

Paula managed the remarkable feat of having four children in six years while simultaneously building her career at WBZ-TV, demonstrating extraordinary organizational skills and dedication. She maintains a firm commitment to protecting her children’s privacy from media attention, a decision that reflects her broader approach to keeping her personal life separate from her public professional role.

Community Involvement and Charitable Work

Paula Ebben’s commitment to her community extends well beyond the television studio. She serves on the Board of Directors of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Boston’s foremost agency helping homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. She also supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Paula has been volunteering for Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Newton Country Day School for the past decade. These commitments reflect the same values that shape her journalism — a genuine concern for the well-being of her community and a dedication to using her platform and personal time to make a positive difference.

Her volunteer work with Bridge Over Troubled Waters is particularly meaningful given the organization’s focus on young people in crisis, a population whose stories she has often covered with care and sensitivity through her reporting career.

Net Worth and Salary

Paula Ebben has built considerable financial success across her broadcast journalism career. The salary range of Paula Ebben is estimated to be between $70,000 and $125,000. Given her seniority at WBZ-TV and her role as a co-anchor on the flagship morning news program, her compensation reflects her significant value to the station.

Industry experts estimate her wealth between $2.5 million and $3.2 million, positioning her among Boston media’s financially successful personalities. Other estimates place her net worth closer to $5 million when accounting for over two decades of broadcasting income alongside personal investments. The range of estimates reflects the inherent uncertainty in reporting private financial information, but all sources agree that her career earnings reflect a long, successful, and financially rewarding journalism career.

Paula Ebben’s Legacy in New England Broadcasting

Paula Ebben represents a model of what sustained, values-driven broadcast journalism looks like over a full career. In a media landscape that rewards novelty and speed, she has built her reputation on consistency, depth of local knowledge, genuine community connection, and a commitment to accurate, fair reporting.

Her coverage of events like the Boston Marathon bombing demonstrates that local television journalism can achieve the same impact and quality standards as national network reporting. Her Eye on Education series shows that advocacy journalism — holding institutions accountable and giving voice to underserved communities — can be integrated into local news programming with integrity and sustained viewer engagement.

As she continues her role co-anchoring WBZ News Mornings in 2026, Paula Ebben remains one of the most influential voices in New England media, trusted by viewers across Massachusetts to deliver the news with accuracy, empathy, and professionalism.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paula Ebben

How old is Paula Ebben?

Paula Ebben was born on November 9, 1966, which makes her 59 years old as of 2026. She was raised in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and has spent her entire broadcasting career in the New England region. Her decades of experience and continued presence at WBZ-TV make her one of the most experienced anchors in the Boston media market.

Where does Paula Ebben work?

Paula Ebben works at WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts, where she has been an anchor and reporter since December 2002. She currently co-anchors WBZ News Mornings alongside Chris Tanaka and also serves as an anchor for CBS News Boston, the station’s streaming news service. She contributes reporting across all WBZ newscasts including the “Eye on Education” series.

Who is Paula Ebben’s husband?

Paula Ebben is married to Bill Ebben, whom she met while both were students at Boston College. The couple married after their graduation and have built a family together in the Greater Boston area. Bill Ebben has a career in advertising and marketing and is described as a supportive partner throughout Paula’s journalism career.

How many children does Paula Ebben have?

Paula Ebben and her husband Bill have four children — two sons and two daughters. The family lives in the Greater Boston area. Paula has been open about the challenges of managing an early morning broadcast schedule while raising a family, and her ability to do both successfully has made her a respected figure both professionally and personally.

What awards has Paula Ebben won?

Paula Ebben has received some of broadcast journalism’s highest honors. She is a multiple Emmy Award winner and nominee across categories including Anchor, Reporter, Consumer Reporter, Education Series, and Writing. She received a 2013 Peabody Award and a 2014 Columbia DuPont Award as part of WBZ-TV’s team coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombing. She also earned a regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting in 2005.

What is Paula Ebben’s net worth?

Paula Ebben’s net worth is estimated to be between $2.5 million and $5 million, built over more than two decades as a prominent television news anchor in Boston. Her annual salary at WBZ-TV is estimated in the range of $70,000 to $125,000. These figures reflect her long tenure, senior role, and consistent award-winning performance at one of New England’s leading broadcast news stations.

Where did Paula Ebben go to college?

Paula Ebben attended Boston College, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1989. She was an active member of the Boston College Dramatics Society and the University Chorale during her time there. Prior to college, she attended Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, graduating in 1985.

What is the “Eye on Education” series?

“Eye on Education” is a long-running WBZ-TV news series anchored and reported by Paula Ebben that focuses on issues affecting schools and students across New England. The series covers topics such as classroom conditions, school safety, educational policy, and student outcomes. It has earned Paula multiple Emmy nominations in the Education Series category and is one of her most recognized contributions to community journalism.