Maggie Vespa’s career started in Peoria, Illinois, where she was born into a family strongly involved in journalism and public service.
Inspired by her mother, a groundbreaking TV reporter, and her brother, a committed lawyer and city councilman, Maggie created her own path in media.
From her early days at the University of Illinois to her advancement as an NBC News correspondent, she has covered topics ranging from breaking news to social justice issues.
Despite her success, she remains modest, enjoying family time, hiking, and cooking.
However, behind the camera, she also faces the challenge of sexism in media
Here’s everything that you need to know.
Maggie Vespa Quick Facts
Wiki and Bio | |
---|---|
Full Name | Maggie Vespa |
Nick Name | Update soon |
Profession | Journalist, News Anchor |
Famous as | NBC News Correspondent |
Age | 37 years old |
Date of Birth | December 29, 1987 |
Birthplace/Hometown | Peoria, Illinois, USA |
Nationality | American |
Sexuality | Update soon |
Gender | Female |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Update soon |
Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign) | Capricorn |
Height (in feet) | 5 feet 5 inches |
Height (in centimeters) | 165 cm |
Weight (in pounds) | 125.7 lbs |
Weight (in kilograms) | 57 kg |
Body Measurements (in inches) | Update soon |
Body Measurements (in centimeters) | Update soon |
Shoe Size in US | Update soon |
Tattoo Details | Update soon |
Eye Color | Update soon |
Hair Color | Update soon |
Parents | Kay Hartzell Vespa, Joe Vespa |
Siblings | Mike Vespa (Brother) |
Relationship Status | Single (Assumed) |
Dating History | Update soon |
Partner | Update soon |
Children | None (Assumed) |
Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism |
School | Local high school in Peoria, Illinois |
Alma Mater | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Hobbies & Favorites | Hiking, Cooking (Italian Food), Spending time with friends and family |
Favorite Celebrities | Update soon |
Dream Holiday | Update soon |
Favorite Color | Update soon |
Interests | Journalism, Social Justice, Community Involvement |
Net Worth | Estimated between $1 million – $5 million |
Salary & Earnings | Estimated annual salary over $89,000 |
@maggievespa | |
Update soon |
Maggie Vespa Wiki, Age, Bio, Parents
Maggie was born on December 29, 1987, in Peoria, Illinois, USA. She is 37 years old.
Kay Hartzell Vespa and Joe Vespa are Maggie’s parents. Both of them are American and come from a white ethnic background.
Kay and Joe married in April 1979, and they have been married for 45 years.
Kay Vespa worked as a reporter and anchor at a Peoria TV station. Notably, she was one of the few women on TV during her time.
Maggie also has a brother named Mike Vespa, a lawyer at Hanauer Law Office, LLC.
He previously served as a public defender and assistant public defender at the Peoria County Public Defender’s Office.
He studied at Northern Illinois University College of Law and now lives in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois.
Additionally, he serves as a Peoria city councilman, representing and serving his community.
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College Education
Maggie graduated from a local high school in her hometown.
For college, Maggie attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2006.
Four years later, in 2010, Vespa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism.
While at the university, she worked for “the Daily Illini,” the school’s award-winning newspaper.
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Is Maggie Vespa Married? Husband
Regarding her personal life and romantic relationships, Maggie is very private.
There are no rumors about her affairs or past relationships. People assume that she is single at this time.
Hobbies and Interests Outside of Work
Although she enjoys her work the most, she spends her free time hiking, cooking (especially Italian food), and being with friends and family.
Volunteer Work and Community Involvement
Vespa takes part in several community activities and events in the Portland area.
She has supported organizations such as the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division and has mentored young journalists through the student media program at Portland State University.
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Maggie Vespa’s Net Worth and Salary
Several online sources have reported different figures regarding her net worth.
Maggie has not publicly disclosed her exact net worth, making it hard to estimate. However, estimates suggest it ranges between $1 million and $5 million.
Vespa earns an estimated annual salary of over $89,000 as a journalist and news anchor. This is typical for a media personality in the USA.
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Maggie Vespa: NBC
She began her career as a reporter and weekend anchor at television stations in her hometown of Peoria, Illinois.
Later, Vespa worked at KGUN-TV in Tucson, Arizona, for two years as a general assignment reporter.
In 2014, she joined KGW-TV, which became her longest-held job before she started working as an NBC News correspondent in 2022.
Role as a News Anchor and Journalist at KGW-TV (2014)
In 2014, she began working for KGW-TV, where she held jobs as a lead reporter and host for the news show “The Story,” which specializes in in-depth coverage of regional topics.
During her time at KGW-TV, she covered a wide range of news, from breaking news to local news and social justice issues.
To name a few, Maggie covered the COVID-19 pandemic and forest wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, and along with that, she was involved in various digital and social initiatives by the channel.
Maggie Vespa’s Professional Achievements
These are the awards and recognitions Maggie has gotten so far.
- Emmy Awards (2018)
- Regional Award
- Recognized for her in-depth reporting
- Recognized for strong social media presence to engage viewers and promote her work.
Maggie excels in the media industry with over a decade of experience.
Additionally, Maggie reported on multiple stories under various conditions that have benefited both her and the channels for which she has worked.
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Maggie Vespa Height, Weight, Body Stats
Maggie Vespa has an average height of 5 feet 5 inches and a body weight of 57 kg.
She has received criticism from the viewers for the way she styles her outfit on-screen, but it hasn’t stopped her because she exudes confidence and handles herself with grace on-screen.
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Maggie Vespa’s Experience with Sexism
Maggie, a reporter and fill-in anchor for KGW-TV, received criticism from a viewer regarding her choice of style while on air.
The viewer, named Jeffrey, direct messaged Maggie on her Facebook page to express his opinion that her pants looked “crazy” because they rode up so high above her waist.
In the message, Jeffrey stated that the clothes Maggie had been wearing were “not cool looking in any way” and that she was “way too pretty to look so foolish.”
He suggested that she “try dressing like a normal woman” and questioned whether KGW-TV paid her enough for a wardrobe makeover.
Maggie Responds to Sexism
Vespa responded by posting about the negative message on her Facebook page. Hundreds of people commented on her post, agreeing that women in public face pressure to look attractive.
Vespa then wore a different pair of high-waisted pants on each of the five shows she hosted that weekend. She documented the experiment with photos and showcased it live on air.
Vespa’s goal was to convey to women and girls that they should dress how they wanted. She also emphasized that anyone who tries to make them feel bad is the problem themselves.
With this confrontation, Maggie also hoped to raise awareness of the profession’s sexism and the backlash that women face.
Importance of standing up to sexism and promoting body positivity in the media
People must learn how to fight sexism because it exists in every workplace, and no workplace is free from it.
Issues such as the gender pay gap and other long-standing problems, including sexist jokes, stereotypes, and biases, remain common in the media.
Although there have been improvements in recent years, significant progress still needs to be made.
One iconic movement was when multiple women came forward revealing how Charlie Rose sexually harassed them, exploiting his powerful position.
Standing up against such practices in the media remains essential to promoting fairness.
It serves as a strong method to change norms and stereotypes about gender.
Women frequently encounter sexism and various criticisms at work. Examples include rude comments, objectification, sexist humor, overly familiar remarks, and unnecessary comments about dress and appearance.
Maggie Vespa’s experience with sexism reflects what many women face daily, regardless of their job or position.
Many women in the entertainment industry have shared similar experiences. For instance, Reese Witherspoon once revealed that her financial advisor warned her she would earn “drastically” less money in her 40s.
Similarly, Rose McGowan recalled being told she would only get roles if men found her physically attractive.
These examples highlight incidents that happen almost every day around the world in every field.
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Prevalence of Sexism in the Media Industry (With Stats)
The media industry shows a clear gender imbalance.
An IWMF poll found that women make up about one-third (35%) of the global media workforce and hold just over a quarter (27%) of the top managerial roles. Women journalists often write about “soft topics,” such as social and health issues.
In contrast, men are more likely to cover “hard subjects,” such as politics and the economy.
Furthermore, only 4% of all newspaper, radio, and TV reports worldwide challenge gender stereotypes.
Only 24% of news subjects—the people who are interviewed or are the focus of the news—are female.
Media outlets use women as experts only 19% of the time.
Women appear as the main subjects in only 16% of news stories related to politics and government.
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Interesting Facts about Maggie Vespa
In 2010, the correspondent began her career as a weekend producer and anchor at Granite Broadcasting.
She later reported for the Journal Broadcast Group. Maggie spent nearly eight years at KGW-TV as a reporter and fill-in anchor.
Her major career break came when she started working as an NBC News and MSNBC correspondent in Chicago last year.
“Ecstatic to share this!!! I started working as a correspondent for NBC News on Monday. reporting for all of the network’s platforms and shows, located out of Chicago. This is a great honor for an Illinois child who grew up watching NBC.”