If you’ve lived in the Delaware Valley long enough, you know that the faces on your TV screen start to feel like family. You wake up with them, you have dinner while they explain the local traffic mess, and you trust them to tell you if a blizzard is actually going to hit or if it’s just another "dusting" that shuts down the Blue Route. But lately, if you’ve tuned into WCAU, you might have noticed things look a little different. The NBC 10 Philadelphia news team is currently in the middle of a massive generational shift.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. We just saw the end of an era with Tracy Davidson moving on after nearly 30 years. That’s three decades of consumer advocacy and morning anchoring gone in a blink. Replacing a staple like that isn’t just about finding someone who can read a teleprompter; it’s about finding someone the city actually likes.
Who is Leading the NBC 10 Philadelphia News Team in 2026?
The biggest news right now? Lena Tillett. She officially joined the squad on January 12, 2026, coming over from WRAL in Raleigh. If you haven't seen her yet, she’s already slotted into the high-profile evening spots. She is currently co-anchoring with Jacqueline London at 5 p.m. and then teaming up with Fred Shropshire for the 7 p.m. broadcast.
It’s an interesting pairing. Jacqueline London has been a rock for the station since 2013, and Fred Shropshire—who joined back in 2023 to fill the void left by Jim Rosenfield—has finally found his groove in the Philly market. Shropshire is a self-proclaimed history buff, which basically makes him a perfect fit for a city that obsesses over its own past.
Then you’ve got the morning crew. Erin Coleman and Keith Jones are still the ones helping you find your shoes at 5 a.m. Erin is a Philly native (born here, South Jersey bred), which gives her that authentic "I actually know where that Wawa is" energy that viewers crave.
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The New Faces on the Ground
It isn’t just the anchor desk changing. The station has been aggressive about hiring reporters with local roots.
- Kelsey Kushner: A Delaware native and UD grad who moved back from Baltimore in late 2025.
- Robert Johnson: A Northeast Philly kid who grew up watching the very station he now works for as a meteorologist.
- Lili Zheng: Another local connection—she’s a Temple University alum who recently joined the weekend rotation.
- Neil Fischer: He was a freelancer for a while but got bumped up to full-time reporter and weekend morning anchor recently.
The First Alert Weather Team: Life After "The Hurricane"
Let's be real: Philly weather is stressful. We all remember Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz and his bow ties. When he retired, there was a collective "Now what?" from people wondering who would tell them to buy bread and milk.
The current First Alert Weather Team is a mix of the old guard and some fresh energy. Bill Henley is the dean of the group now. He’s been there forever, usually looking slightly sleep-deprived on the morning show, but always reliable.
Brittney Shipp and Michelle Rotella handle a lot of the heavy lifting during the evening blocks. Rotella came over from AccuWeather a few years back and has a very technical, "no-nonsense" approach to forecasting. Then you have the newer additions like Justin Godynick and the aforementioned Robert Johnson. It's a crowded house, but in a region where a lake-effect breeze can turn a sunny day into a thunderstorm in twenty minutes, you kinda need the backup.
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Why the Sports Desk Feels Different
If you’re looking for sports, you’re basically looking for John Clark. The man is everywhere. If an Eagles player sneezes at Philadelphia International Airport, John Clark is somehow there with a microphone before they can find a tissue.
While NBC Sports Philadelphia is technically a sister entity, the crossover on the NBC 10 Philadelphia news team is seamless. You’ll often see Taryn Hatcher—who has become a massive star in her own right—reporting on the Birds or the Sixers during the main news blocks. She’s a Delran, New Jersey native, and that local "one of us" vibe is exactly why she’s winning over the 700-level crowd.
Dealing with the "Philly Standard"
Philly viewers are notoriously tough. We can smell a "carpetbagger" from a mile away. That’s why the station’s recent strategy has been so focused on hiring people like Robert Johnson (Northeast Philly) or Brian Sheehan (Bucks County native and Temple grad). They know that if you mispronounce "Passyunk" or "Schuylkill," the viewers will never let you hear the end of it.
The Telemundo 62 Connection
We can’t talk about the NBC 10 team without mentioning Telemundo 62 (WWSI). They share the same massive, high-tech "Content Studio" in the Comcast Technology Center. You’ll often see reporters like Alberto Rullán or Brian Mendoza working across both platforms. This bilingual integration is actually one of the things NBC 10 does better than almost anyone else in the market. It’s not just a separate wing; it’s a combined newsroom.
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What This Means for Your Daily View
So, why does all this shuffling matter? Because the way we get news is changing. NBC 10 is leaning hard into "multi-platform" reporting. You’ve probably noticed Aunyea Lachelle hosting Philly Live, which is less "hard news" and more "here’s a cool restaurant in Fishtown you should try."
They are trying to bridge the gap between the traditional 6 p.m. broadcast and the person watching clips on their phone while waiting for the SEPTA regional rail.
The Actionable Takeaway for Viewers
If you’re a long-time viewer feeling a bit lost with the new faces, here is how to navigate the new lineup:
- Follow the Locals: If you want news that feels like it’s coming from a neighbor, look for Brian Sheehan or Deanna Durante. They’ve been in the trenches of the Philly suburbs for years.
- App Updates: The "First Alert" branding isn't just for TV. Their weather app is actually one of the most localized tools for tracking those weird suburban microclimates.
- Evening Shift: If you missed the Tracy Davidson era, give the London/Tillett/Shropshire trio a week. The chemistry is still baking, but the reporting remains sharp.
The news business is brutal, and the turnover is high, but the NBC 10 Philadelphia news team seems to be betting on a mix of high-tech studio toys and old-school "I grew up here" credibility. Whether you're tuning in for the latest on City Hall or just to see if you need an umbrella, the team in the Comcast tower is looking very different than it did even two years ago.
Keep an eye on the 7 p.m. slot specifically. With the 2026 World Cup matches coming to Philly and the nation's 250th birthday celebrations centered right here, that specific broadcast team is going to be the face of the city for a lot of national and international eyes.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you've bookmarked the station's livestream or downloaded the updated NBC10 app, as they've been pushing more "digital-exclusive" content from reporters like Neil Fischer and Lili Zheng lately. Understanding who is behind the desk helps you filter the news through the lens of their specific expertise, whether it's local politics or deep-dive community reporting.