Tanja Babich
The Emmy Award-winning anchor brings a wealth of morning news experience and a rich cultural perspective to Chicago viewers. Babich is the Canadian-born daughter to immigrant parents from Chile and Serbia, and came to the U.S. as a first-generation college student. She proudly spoke about her heritage and living the "American Dream" when she became a United States citizen in April 2013.
Before coming to Eyewitness News, Babich anchored Syracuse, New York's top-rated morning newscast on WSYR-TV for three years. Prior to that, she juggled morning news reporting with hosting the market's only weekday morning talk show, Bridge Street, which highlighted community events, people and trends.
Babich's most exhilarating news experience involved an almost hour-and-a-half-long flight with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, at one point, clocking 9.4Gs! Her stomach isn't well-suited for stunt-flying, but her sense of adventure is. Other career highlights include following Pope Francis on his first visit to the U.S., reporting from President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, and helping thousands of tradesmen and women to track down the person responsible for half-a-billion-dollars of labor union losses in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. Above all, it has been the challenge and honor of her career, helping Chicago-area viewers to navigate the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and modern civil rights movement.
After graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government, Babich - who is fluent in French and speaks conversational Spanish and Serbian - nearly became an intelligence officer. A fortuitously timed public speaking engagement captured the attention of a city official who suggested a career in broadcasting instead. Within weeks, Babich applied, and was ultimately accepted, to the Master's Degree program at Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism.
Babich is acutely aware of the privilege afforded by her work and tries to pay it forward. She is a board member of HFS Chicago Scholars, which provides financial and mentoring support to deserving area high school students, and she is also the founder of Lake Affect Chicago, a kids camping retreat in partnership with The Wood Family Foundation and Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, WI. Babich has also enjoyed lending her voice to narrate the stories of exceptional women in history on two episodes of the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls podcast.
Babich is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three daughters.
Find Tanja on Facebook and Instagram: @tanjababich
Twitter: @BabichABC7
Tanja's Stories
Save money on holiday shopping buying refurbished tech gifts
During the holiday shopping season, tech gifts are always popular.
What to consider when withdrawing funds from retirement accounts
Some Americans choose to dip into their retirement account when faced with financial hardship. Here's what you need to know when considering it.
DePaul graduate shares financial journey as student loan payments resume
With student loans back on the top of mind for many Americans, a local woman shared her journey to overcome her financial strife.
Walk to End Alzheimer's steps off at Soldier Field
ABC7 Chicago is the event's media sponsor, and ABC7's Tanja Babich is the media ambassador.
Founder of Catan Pisco company brings Chilean spirit to US
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tanja Babich sat down with the first Chilean and American to own a pisco company.
'Dear Rebel' book features contributions from Tanja Babich, LGBTQ activist Molly Pinta
The creators of the best-selling book series, "Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls" is out with a new book, and there are a couple of familiar local faces in this one!
Chicago's newest arrivals struggle for work, food but find hope through education
A migrant and mother of three young girls says school for her daughters was the best thing to happen to her.
Angela Aguilar kicks off 4th tour in Chicago at the Auditorium Theater
Ángela Aguilar, considered the "Princess of Mexican music," is kicking off her fourth tour in Chicago at the Auditorium Theater tonight.
Long Grove's charm goes beyond Chocolate Fest, bridge
There's a lot more than chocolate in Long Grove.
David, Susan Axelrod share story behind non-profit funding epilepsy research
Over the course of 25 years, CURE Epilepsy has raised more than $90 million to fund research for a cure.