The golden era of the "Voice of God" news anchor—those stiff, silver-haired men behind mahogany desks—is pretty much dead. Honestly, if you flip on the TV today, the vibe is just different. It’s faster. It’s more digital. And at 30 Rock, the lineup of male journalists has undergone a massive shift that most people haven't quite processed yet.
We’re past the days of just Tom Brokaw or Brian Williams. By 2026, the NBC news reporters male roster has become a mix of seasoned war correspondents, data nerds in khakis, and the new face of the evening news.
The Big Chair: Tom Llamas and the New Guard
For the longest time, Lester Holt was the steady hand on the tiller. But in 2025, a major passing of the torch happened when Tom Llamas stepped into the NBC Nightly News anchor chair. It was a huge deal. Llamas isn't just a teleprompter reader; he's a guy who spent years as a campaign embed and a local investigative reporter in New York.
He’s kept his streaming show Top Story on NBC News NOW too. It’s a lot of work. Basically, he’s bridging the gap between traditional broadcast and the "watch it on your phone" generation. You’ve probably noticed his style is a bit more conversational than the anchors of the 90s, though he still carries that old-school authority when things get heavy.
Why the Shift Matters
The transition from Holt to Llamas wasn't just about age. It was about NBC acknowledging that the audience is changing. People want reporters who feel like they’ve actually been in the mud. Llamas has that "street cred" from his days at WNBC and his time covering the border.
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The Men on the Front Lines: Richard Engel and the Correspondents
If you want to talk about "human-quality" reporting, you have to talk about Richard Engel. The guy is essentially the face of international crisis reporting for the network. He’s the Chief Foreign Correspondent, and honestly, it feels like he’s lived in a suitcase for twenty years.
Engel doesn't just do the "standing in front of a landmark" thing. He’s known for deep-access reporting in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Then you have guys like:
- Gabe Gutierrez: Now a Senior White House Correspondent, Gabe is everywhere. He’s one of those guys who seems to have a twin because he’s on Today in the morning and Nightly News at night.
- Morgan Chesky: He’s the guy they send when there’s a hurricane or a massive national story. He’s got that classic "man on the ground" energy.
- Tom Costello: If it involves a plane or a space shuttle, Costello is your guy. He’s the Senior Aviation and Transportation Correspondent, and his level of technical knowledge is actually kind of insane.
The Data Kings: Steve Kornacki and the "Big Board"
You can’t mention NBC news reporters male without talking about the khakis. Steve Kornacki has become a cult hero. During election cycles, the man doesn't seem to sleep. He just stands in front of that giant touchscreen—the "Big Board"—and finds trends in rural Pennsylvania counties that nobody else sees.
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It’s not just about politics anymore, either. NBC has started using him for sports and even the Olympics. He’s basically the network's human calculator.
What’s interesting is how Kornacki changed the "image" of a reporter. He’s messy. He’s frantic. He’s usually wearing a tie that’s slightly askew. And people love him for it because he feels authentic.
Beyond the Desk: The Specialists
There are a few names that people often forget are part of the broader NBC family, especially with the overlap between the news division and the various specialized platforms.
Al Roker is the legend, obviously. He’s been on Today since 1996. Think about that. He’s outlasted almost everyone in the building. While he’s the "weather guy," he functions as a senior correspondent for human interest stories and basically anything that needs a bit of heart.
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On the harder side of things, you’ve got Ken Dilanian. He’s the guy who covers the "spies and lies" beat—intelligence and national security. If there’s a leak from the CIA or a cyberattack, Dilanian is usually the first one with the scoop.
The Changing Face of Morning News
Over at Today, Craig Melvin has cemented his spot as the news anchor for the morning crowd. He’s got a very specific kind of polish. He can interview a grieving family one minute and a celebrity the next without it feeling jarring.
In 2025, he took on an even larger role following Hoda Kotb’s departure, proving that he’s likely the next "pillar" of the network for the next decade.
How to Follow These Journalists Effectively
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest from these reporters, just watching the 6:30 PM news isn't enough anymore. Here is how the pros actually track the news:
- NBC News NOW: This is where the raw, long-form reporting happens. Tom Llamas often does deeper dives here than he can on the 22-minute broadcast.
- Social Media: Reporters like Jacob Soboroff and Vaughn Hillyard are incredibly active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. They often post "behind the scenes" context that never makes the edit.
- The Chuck ToddCast: Even though Chuck Todd stepped back from the moderator chair of Meet the Press, he’s still a huge part of the political analysis team. His podcast is where you go for the "inside baseball" of Washington.
The reality of being an NBC news reporter today is that you have to be a multi-platform athlete. You’re writing for the web, filming for a streaming service, and then appearing on the flagship broadcast. It’s an exhausting pace, but the men currently holding these spots are among the most resilient in the business.
To stay truly informed, don't just wait for the nightly broadcast; follow the specific beats of the correspondents that interest you most, as that's where the real depth lies in the 2026 media landscape.