Last Updated on February 18, 2026 by Author
Profile
Tanja Babich Biography
Tanja Babich is a Canadian-American working in the field of journalism as an anchor for WLS ABC 7’s Eyewitness News from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. She came to Chicago as a general assignment reporter and contributing anchor in January 2014, after working as an anchor at WSYR in Syracuse, New York, for 3 years.
Tanja Babich Height
Babich stands at a rough height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Tanja Babich Age
Babich is 43 years old. She was born on June 30, 1982, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She annually celebrates her birthday on June 30th, as suggested by her Facebook post on June 30, 2015, captioned “It is a blessing to celebrate another year of life, love, family, and opportunity. Thank you for your birthday wishes!” On February 1, 2023, she shared a Facebook post with the caption“I’m not the type to throw myself a big birthday anything, but when I turned 40 last summer, my attitude toward birthdays shifted….”
Personal Life
Tanja Babich Relatives and Family
Babich was born to Elisa and Ilija in Canada. Elisa, her mother, was born in Punta Arenas, the southernmost tip of Chile, and moved to Canada when she was 10. Ilija, her father, immigrated from Serbia.
Babich was raised in Toronto until the age of 13, when her family relocated to the suburbs. She was raised alongside three siblings, Emilija, Miloš, and Jelena. Babich became a first-generation immigrant when she came to the US as a college student.
Tanja Babich Spouse and Children
Babich tied the knot with Paul Durbin on July 7, 2018, as suggested by her Facebook post on July 7, 2023, captioned“…and, now, five years into married/modern family life, I love him – and us – even more. Happy anniversary, PD….” The couple has three daughters, Adelaide Grace, Lorelei, and Josephine.
Addie was born on September 30, 2010, and is 15 years old. This is evident in her Instagram post on September 30, 2023, captioned “…now a TEENAGER?! Happy 13th, Addie Grace. You will always be my sunshine. ☀️…”
Lorelei was born on June 2, 2012, and is 13 years old. This is evident in her Instagram post on June 2, 2025, captioned“THIRTEEN CANDLES!… and she’s mine. Happy Birthday, Lola. 💕”
Josephine was born on May 23, 2021, and is 4 years old. This is evident in her Instagram post on May 23, 2025, captioned “Can you believe she’s SIX?? I tell her all the time, there is no JOY without JO and I mean it with all my heart. ❤️…”
Tanja Babich Education
Babich received her high school diploma in Canada before enrolling at Cornell University. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government. At the suggestion of a city official, she returned to school to be a journalist. In this capacity, she joined the Master’s Degree program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Professional Life
Tanja Babich Career
Babich works as an anchor for WLS ABC 7’s Eyewitness News from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. When she joined the station, she worked as a general assignment reporter and contributing anchor before her promotion to anchor the morning newscaster in September 2016. She later added the midday newscast to her duties in June 2018.
Before working for WLS ABC 7, Babich worked as an anchor at WSYR in Syracuse, New York, for 3 years. Prior to her time at WSYR, she worked as a morning news reporter and a host for the market’s weekday morning show, “Bridge Street,” which showcased community events and trends.
Babich’s most memorable assignment was the nearly 90-minute-long flight with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, at one point, clocking 9.4Gs. Other highlights of her career include the coverage of Pope Francis’s inaugural U.S. visit and reporting live from President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. In addition, she helped thousands of union workers by tracking the person responsible for 500 million dollars of labor union losses in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. Though it was challenging, she was honored to help Chicago-area viewers navigate the troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and modern civil rights movement.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Babich almost became an intelligence officer, as she is fluent in French and speaks conversational Spanish and Serbian. However, a city official recommended that she try a career in broadcasting after she captured his attention with a fortuitously timed public speaking engagement.
Babich serves on the board of HFS Chicago Scholars, an organization providing financial aid and mentorship to empower promising local high school students. Moreover, she launched the Lake Affect Chicago, a children’s camping retreat in collaboration with The Wood Family Foundation and Camp Wanda Wega in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
Babich is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She loved sharing her voice and delivering stories of exceptional women in history in two Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls podcast episodes.
Tanja Babich Net Worth
Babich has garnered a net worth ranging from $1 million to $6 million during her successful career as a journalist.
Tanja Babich Salary
Babich receives an approximate annual salary of $110, 000, which she earns working as an anchor for WLS ABC 7’s Eyewitness News.
Tanja Babich Ethnicity and Nationality
Babich is half Serbian and half Chilean, as her parents are immigrants from Serbia(father) and Chile(mother). She has Canadian and American citizenship, i.e., she is Canadian by birth and American through naturalization. She proudly spoke about her heritage and living the “American Dream” when she was declared a United States citizen in April 2013.
Tanja Babich Social Media
Babich has active social media platforms, i.e., Facebook, X(previously Twitter), and Instagram. She has a following of over 41K on Facebook, over 22.6K on Instagram, and over 7.8K on X.
