NewsNation Prime

The genesis of the project was in October 2019, when Nexstar management commissioned viewer research that showed that Americans were dissatisfied with opinion-based programming on the cable news channels.{{Cite web|title=The Making of NewsNation {{!}} NewsNation Now - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMqlYlqhwsY&feature=youtu.be|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.youtube.com|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101191302/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMqlYlqhwsY&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}} CNN, which had previously shown straight news programming during the evening, moved into liberal-leaning{{cite news |url=https://libguides.com.edu/c.php?g=649909&p=4556556 |title=Which Way Does Your News Lean? - Media Bias |work=College of the Mainland |location=Texas City, Texas |date=2020-12-02 |access-date=2021-01-03 |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302013229/https://libguides.com.edu/c.php?g=649909&p=4556556 |url-status=live }} personality-based programming under the leadership of Jeff Zucker, while MSNBC (which gravitated toward liberal opinion/talk programs beginning in 2008), conservative-leaning Fox News and One America News Network (the latter two networks have both used conservative talk shows) to anchor their prime time shows since the May 2004 cancellation of The News with Brian Williams and the Fox Report{{'s}} relegation to a weekend-only telecast in October 2013.

Originally codenamed Project Neutral, on January 15, 2020, Nexstar announced the program, four months after the company closed on an acquisition of Tribune Media that encompassed much of the latter's broadcast and digital assets (including WGN America, which was the lone wholly owned property among Tribune's cable television assets and remains so as a Nexstar property), and greatly expanded Nexstar's broadcasting portfolio in the 50 largest U.S. television markets (adding stations in such major cities as Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston).

The program was developed by Perry Sook and Sean Compton and under management of Jennifer Lyons, who was reassigned by Nexstar from her role as news director at its Chicago station WGN-TV to serve as WGN America's vice president of news,{{cite news|author=Cynthia Littleton|date=January 15, 2020|title=Nexstar to Launch National Primetime Newscast on WGN America|periodical=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/wgn-america-news-nation-primetime-1203467801/|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116005354/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/wgn-america-news-nation-primetime-1203467801/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=WGN America Announces Anchor Teams and Correspondents for Prime-Time National Newscast "News Nation" Launching September 1|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/wgn-america-news-nation-anchor-and-correspondents-2020/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc.|language=en-US|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901152159/https://www.nexstar.tv/wgn-america-news-nation-anchor-and-correspondents-2020/|url-status=live}} with the assistance of WGN America Executive Vice President Sean Compton. Former Fox News Channel chief and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Shine was brought on as a consultant.{{Cite web|title='Consultant' Bill Shine casts Fox shadow over 'NewsNation' - Robert Feder|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/02/08/consultant-bill-shine-casts-fox-shadow-newsnation/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211090245/https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/02/08/consultant-bill-shine-casts-fox-shadow-newsnation/|url-status=live}} NewsNation is the first national news effort to use WGN America as a platform since the channel—then operating as WGN-TV's superstation feed under the ownership of former parent Tribune—carried the similarly formatted Independent Network News from its premiere in June 1980 until the Tribune-distributed syndicated newscast ended in June 1990.{{cite news|author=Lillian Rizzo|date=January 15, 2020|title=WGN America Enters Cable-TV News Arena, Promising No Opinions|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wgn-america-enters-cable-tv-news-arena-promising-no-opinions-11579093200|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116201120/https://www.wsj.com/articles/wgn-america-enters-cable-tv-news-arena-promising-no-opinions-11579093200|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Robert Channick|date=January 15, 2020|title=Nexstar to launch national prime-time newscast on cable network WGN America out of Chicago as alternative to Fox and CNN|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-america-national-newscast-nexstar-20200115-tqgjapz6tbattfdhecjttgjttu-story.html|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118095007/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-america-national-newscast-nexstar-20200115-tqgjapz6tbattfdhecjttgjttu-story.html|url-status=live}}

Upon its September 2020 premiere, NewsNation replaced acquired entertainment programming and movies that WGN America used to occupy prime time and early late-night timeslots. Because the program replaced syndicated programming that was scheduled to have their contracts expire or have their allotted timeslots reduced within the WGN America schedule, the cost of developing NewsNation and hiring personnel for the program is neutral to Nexstar.{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Mark|date=2020-01-15|title=Nexstar To Air Primetime WGN America News|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/243394/nexstar-to-launch-primetime-wgn-america-news/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=TV News Check|language=en|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929234145/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/243394/nexstar-to-launch-primetime-wgn-america-news/|url-status=live}}

The program was developed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States{{Cite web|last=August 2020|first=Jon Lafayette 24|title=Nexstar's 'News Nation' Ready for Opening Night|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstars-news-nation-ready-for-opening-night|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Broadcasting Cable|date=August 24, 2020|language=en|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923072913/https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstars-news-nation-ready-for-opening-night|url-status=live}} and launched just before the 2020 United States presidential election. Nexstar hired "rhetoricians" to monitor the language used to describe events for neutrality, and is also providing significant weather coverage, which is, for the most part, not currently readily available on cable television (except for hurricanes and other major severe weather events, particularly as The Weather Channel currently shows weather-related entertainment and documentary programs in prime time, and all-weather-focused WeatherNation TV and AccuWeather Network have relatively limited pay television distribution).{{Cite web|title=Robservations: WGN America planning to launch 'News Nation' Sept. 1|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/05/07/robservations-wgn-america-planning-launch-news-nation-sept-1/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611130106/https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/05/07/robservations-wgn-america-planning-launch-news-nation-sept-1/|url-status=live}}

Nexstar spent $20 million to build the operation, including a complete renovation of the WGN-TV studio facility in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |title=WGN America Launches Primetime Newscast With A Promise: Just The Facts |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/news-nation-launch-wgn-america-nexstar-1203028135/ |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=Deadline |date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121071651/https://deadline.com/2020/09/news-nation-launch-wgn-america-nexstar-1203028135/ |url-status=live }} NewsNation{{'s}} studio was built inside Studio 3, which was previously occupied by defunct regional cable news channel Chicagoland Television; the program's newsroom was built above WGN-TV's local newsroom, in space formerly occupied by sister AM radio station WGN.{{Cite web|last=Channick|first=Robert|title=WGN America to launch 'News Nation' on Tuesday, aiming to transform the house that Bozo built into the next CNN|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-america-news-nation-launch-20200828-evo54yyjzvbazc2g7dzlmjonua-story.html|access-date=2020-08-30|website=chicagotribune.com|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111084716/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-america-news-nation-launch-20200828-evo54yyjzvbazc2g7dzlmjonua-story.html|url-status=live}} The company also spent $100 million in advertising for the September 2020 launch,{{Cite web|last=Feder|first=Robert|date=August 25, 2020|title=WGN America's 'News Nation' gets ready to make primetime history|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/08/25/wgn-americas-news-nation-gets-ready-make-primetime-history/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901090140/https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/08/25/wgn-americas-news-nation-gets-ready-make-primetime-history/|url-status=live}} including a 28-minute behind-the-scenes program which was uploaded on WGN America's YouTube and Facebook platforms on August 17, 2020, and aired commercial-free on WGN America and on Nexstar stations during the weekend of August 29.

To prevent preconceived viewer impressions based on their past work, Compton and Lyons hired journalists with experience rooted mainly in local television news to be part of the program's in-house staff of anchors, correspondents and meteorologists. Compton told the Los Angeles Times in June 2020, “We just hired local journalists who have not been at opinionated networks because let's face it, the big three news channels are all opinionated — two on the left, one on the right. We want them to come from local stations which tend to report facts and let you come to your own opinion.”{{cite news|title=A cable alternative to CNN? WGN America prepares for national newscast in a crowded market|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-06-02/wgn-america-nextar-anchors-news-nation-cable-news-cnn-msnbc|author=Stephen Battaglio|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 2, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630235248/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-06-02/wgn-america-nextar-anchors-news-nation-cable-news-cnn-msnbc|url-status=live}} By its launch, NewsNation hired 150 people in Chicago and bureaus in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Dallas.{{Cite web|title=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. {{!}} Launching September 1|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/newsnation/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc.|language=en-US|archive-date=August 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822045913/https://www.nexstar.tv/newsnation/|url-status=live}} The program also uses reporting from local Nexstar stations. Nexstar required that its local stations withhold breaking news footage from competing networks in order to give NewsNation right of first coverage; the move led CNN to terminate a video sharing agreement that granted Nexstar's 197 stations access to content from its CNN Newsource video wire service.{{cite web|title=Robservations: 'News Nation' edict costs Nexstar stations access to CNN video|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/09/10/robservations-news-nation-edict-costs-nexstar-stations-access-cnn-video/|author=Robert Feder|website=RobertFeder.com|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926234750/https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/09/10/robservations-news-nation-edict-costs-nexstar-stations-access-cnn-video/|url-status=live}}

Over the first month, ratings reached approximately 100,000 viewers per night, approximately in line with the viewership of syndicated reruns and first-run programming that had previously occupied the timeslot.{{Cite web|last=Channick|first=Robert|title=WGN America's 'News Nation,' which launched this month to tepid ratings, lands an interview with President Trump. 'This puts us in the big time.'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-news-nation-trump-interview-20200922-bkokavhscrexlgq4rrohwbi54q-story.html|access-date=2020-09-23|website=chicagotribune.com|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923014827/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wgn-news-nation-trump-interview-20200922-bkokavhscrexlgq4rrohwbi54q-story.html|url-status=live}} However, average ratings—factoring drop-offs from first-week sampling—fell below 100,000 viewers for its second and third hours following its premiere week. The program saw a ratings high for anchor Joe Donlon's September 22, 2020, interview with President Donald Trump, which peaked at 218,000 viewers for the 8:00 p.m. ET hour, before falling to 54,000 viewers for that night's third hour.{{cite web|title=Robservations: Tribune Publishing apologizes for phony phishing expedition|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/09/24/robservations-tribune-publishing-apologizes-phony-phishing-expedition/|author=Robert Feder|website=RobertFeder.com|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927185502/https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/09/24/robservations-tribune-publishing-apologizes-phony-phishing-expedition/|url-status=live}} Ratings in the 25-54 demographic prized by advertisers have been especially low, with an average of 15,000 viewers, less than one-sixth of the amount thought to be successful.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-05|title=WGN America adds Ashleigh Banfield talk show as 'NewsNation' struggles to find audience|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-01-05/ashleigh-banfield-joins-wgn-america-talk-show-host|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105211146/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-01-05/ashleigh-banfield-joins-wgn-america-talk-show-host|url-status=live}}

Since its launch, NewsNation has been criticized for a rightward tilt in its guests and for hiring former Fox News Channel chief and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Shine as a consultant. The news director and managing editor quit following disclosure of Shine's role. Lyons announced her resignation in March amid growing concern that the channel would lean rightward and minuscule ratings for the network.{{Cite web|last=Channick|first=Robert|title=Jennifer Lyons, VP of news at NewsNation, quits struggling Chicago-based cable news network|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-newsnation-cable-news-executive-quits-20210310-wec74ku3qjaivjeeotqzgeohgm-story.html|access-date=2021-03-14|website=chicagotribune.com|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311224824/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-newsnation-cable-news-executive-quits-20210310-wec74ku3qjaivjeeotqzgeohgm-story.html|url-status=live}}

Effective March 1, 2021, the final hour of NewsNation will be branded Banfield as veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield will host an interview program under the NewsNation banner.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-05|title=Award-winning journalist Ashleigh Banfield to host nightly talk show on WGN America|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/award-winning-journalist-ashleigh-banfield-to-host-nightly-talk-show-on-wgn-america/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110151804/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/award-winning-journalist-ashleigh-banfield-to-host-nightly-talk-show-on-wgn-america/|url-status=live}} The WGN America network will be re-branded as NewsNation and include new programming: NewsNation Early Edition which will be hosted by Nichole Berlie at 6 p.m. ET, and The Donlon Report, anchored by Joe Donlon at 7 p.m. ET. The two-hour NewsNation broadcast will be renamed NewsNation Prime.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=WGN America will change its name to NewsNation, moving to compete with CNN, Fox, MSNBC|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-01-25/wgn-america-new-name-newsnation-news-cnn-fox-msnbc|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125184630/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-01-25/wgn-america-new-name-newsnation-news-cnn-fox-msnbc|url-status=live}}

Effective July 19, 2021, the first hour of NewsNation Prime would be branded as On Balance with Leland Vittert. NewsNation Prime has been reduced to one hour.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=NewsNation set to launch 2 new weeknight shows beginning July 19|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-set-to-launch-2-new-weeknight-programs-beginning-july-19/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714204434/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-set-to-launch-2-new-weeknight-programs-beginning-july-19/|url-status=live}}

Effective immediately, NewsNation Prime would add a live, hour-long late-evening newscast at 11 p.m. ET (which eventually became NewsNation Tonight), and anchored by Marni Hughes and Leland Vittert.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-14 |title=NewsNation Further Expands News Programming |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/newsnation-further-expands-news-programming/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315041726/https://www.nexstar.tv/newsnation-further-expands-news-programming/ |url-status=live }}

On September 16, 2022, NewsNation Prime anchor Marni Hughes will make her final appearance on the show. She will host NewsNation Live which will debut on September 19, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title="NewsNation Live with Marni Hughes" To Premiere Monday, September 19, on NewsNation |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220906005810/en/%E2%80%9CNewsNation-Live-with-Marni-Hughes%E2%80%9D-To-Premiere-Monday-September-19-on-NewsNation |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907012105/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220906005810/en/%E2%80%9CNewsNation-Live-with-Marni-Hughes%E2%80%9D-To-Premiere-Monday-September-19-on-NewsNation |url-status=live }}

On September 19, 2022, Journalist Elizabeth Vargas will guest anchor NewsNation Prime until September 23, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=Emmy Award-Winning Journalist Elizabeth Vargas To Guest Anchor "NewsNation Prime" September 19–23 (8PM ET/7PM CT) |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/elizabeth-vargas-to-guest-anchor-newsnation-prime-sept-19-23/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |language=en-US |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912211458/https://www.nexstar.tv/elizabeth-vargas-to-guest-anchor-newsnation-prime-sept-19-23/ |url-status=live }}

On October 3, 2022, NewsNation Prime will be replaced by a new show, Cuomo, hosted by Chris Cuomo at 8 p.m. ET. NewsNation Prime will continue to air on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=Chris Cuomo will join NewsNation on multimillion dollar deal for an 8pm slot from October 3 - New York Daily Paper |url=https://nydailypaper.com/newsnation-knocks-report-chris-cuomo-start-hosting-700k-year-october-3-htmlns_mchannelrssns_campaign1490ito1490/ |access-date=2022-09-07 |language=en-US |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907010505/https://nydailypaper.com/newsnation-knocks-report-chris-cuomo-start-hosting-700k-year-october-3-htmlns_mchannelrssns_campaign1490ito1490/ |url-status=live }}

The digital platform, which provides supplemental content to that which is featured on the television broadcast, is branded as NewsNation Now. The platform's app includes audio updates—consisting of news summaries (similar to the top-of-the-hour national summaries played on affiliates of syndicated radio news providers) and single-story segments—produced by Nexstar-owned news/talk radio station WGN in Chicago, which dropped its decades-long ABC News Radio affiliation amid NewsNation{{'s}} launch.{{Cite web|last=Feder|first=Robert|date=July 9, 2020|title=Robservations: The Drive's Bob Stroud on Radio Hall of Fame ballot|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/07/09/robservations-drives-bob-stroud-radio-hall-fame-ballot/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830132022/https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/07/09/robservations-drives-bob-stroud-radio-hall-fame-ballot/|url-status=live}}

To promote the newscast, WGN America offered viewers unrestricted access to the livestream of the program's live broadcast and rebroadcast in 2020; following the promotional period, the program is only accessible via provider login to subscribers who receive WGN America through cable, satellite and wireline-style IPTV providers. Already on AT&T TV Now, WGN America was added to most virtual MVPD services in January 2021, including YouTube TV,{{Cite web|date=2020-12-01|title=NewsNation, WGN America coming to YouTube TV in January 2021|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/newsnation-wgn-america-coming-to-youtube-tv-in-january-2021/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227110831/https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/newsnation-wgn-america-coming-to-youtube-tv-in-january-2021/|url-status=live}} Sling TV,{{Cite web|date=2020-12-25|title=NewsNation, WGN America joins Sling TV in 2021 as Nexstar Media Group and Dish Network reach multi-year deal|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-joins-sling-tv-in-2021-as-nexstar-media-group-and-dish-network-reach-multi-year-deal/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120193706/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-joins-sling-tv-in-2021-as-nexstar-media-group-and-dish-network-reach-multi-year-deal/|url-status=live}} Hulu{{Cite web|date=2020-12-18|title=NewsNation, WGN America joins Hulu in 2021|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-joins-hulu-in-2021/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=December 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218173411/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-joins-hulu-in-2021/|url-status=live}} and FuboTV.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-11|title=NewsNation, WGN America coming to fuboTV in January 2021|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-coming-to-fubotv-in-january-2021/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103024355/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-wgn-america-coming-to-fubotv-in-january-2021/|url-status=live}} In late September 2020, select Nexstar-run MyNetworkTV and independent stations—such as WMYT-TV/Charlotte and KAUT-TV/Oklahoma City—began offering preview simulcasts of the first hour of NewsNation.

• Dan Abrams – weeknight host of Dan Abrams Live (formerly of MSNBC)
• Ashleigh Banfield – weeknight host of Banfield (formerly of ABC News, CNN, HLN, MSNBC and NBC News)
• Adrienne Bankert – national correspondent/morning anchor of Morning in America (TV program){{Cite web|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|date=2021-04-19|title=ABC News' Adrienne Bankert Joins Nexstar's NewsNation With Eye on Morning Show|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/adrienne-bankert-news-nation-anchor-gma-1234954125/|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420224541/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/adrienne-bankert-news-nation-anchor-gma-1234954125/|url-status=live}} (formerly of KCRA-TV, KTVT, and ABC News)
• Nichole Berlie – weeknight anchor of NewsNation Rush Hour{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=WGN America to rebrand as NewsNation with launch of new shows in March|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/wgn-america-to-rebrand-as-newsnation-with-launch-of-new-shows-in-march/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216162849/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/wgn-america-to-rebrand-as-newsnation-with-launch-of-new-shows-in-march/|url-status=live}}(formerly of WCVB-TV)
• Keleigh Beeson – national correspondent (formerly of KMBC-TV)
• Aleksandra Bush – NewsNation Now anchor/producer (formerly of WGHP)
• Alex Caprariello – West Coast correspondent of Morning in America (formerly of KXAN-TV and KNWA-TV)
• Dray Clark – national correspondent (formerly of Black News Channel)
• Tom Dempsey – Washington D.C. correspondent (formerly of WHSV-TV)
• Ileana Diaz – Miami correspondent of Morning in America (formerly of KNBC, WUSA (TV), and KYW-TV)
• Brian Entin – senior national correspondent (formerly of WSVN)
• Sloane Glass – entertainment correspondent of Morning in America (formerly of WAGA-TV)
• Allison Harris – White House correspondent{{Cite web|date=2021-04-13|title=NewsNation names Allison Harris as new Washington DC correspondent|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-names-allison-harris-as-new-washington-dc-correspondent/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=NewsNation Now|language=en-US|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414224426/https://www.newsnationnow.com/press-release/newsnation-names-allison-harris-as-new-washington-dc-correspondent/|url-status=live}} (formerly of KDFW)
• Marni Hughes – weekday anchor of NewsNation Live (formerly of KCPQ)
• Marley Kayden – business correspondent (formerly of WGN-TV, & WMAQ-TV)
• Joe Khalil – Capitol Hill reporter (formerly of WLNS-TV)
• Kelsey Kernstine – Chicago correspondent (formerly of KWTV-DT)
• Evan Lambert – Washington D.C. and political correspondent (formerly of WTTG)
• Nancy Loo – West Coast bureau correspondent{{Cite web|date=2020-08-27|title=A full circle career with Nancy Loo {{!}} The News Director's Office|url=https://ktla.com/podcasts/the-news-directors-office/a-full-circle-career-with-nancy-loo-the-news-directors-office/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=KTLA|language=en-US|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924213037/https://ktla.com/podcasts/the-news-directors-office/a-full-circle-career-with-nancy-loo-the-news-directors-office/|url-status=live}} (formerly of WGN-TV, WFLD and WABC-TV)
• Rich McHugh – Investigative correspondent (formerly of Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News and NBC News)
• Aaron Nolan – Mid-South correspondent of Morning in America (formerly of KARK-TV)
• Kellie Meyer – Washington correspondent (formerly of WENY-TV)
• Markie Martin – Dallas bureau correspondent (formerly of KOCO-TV)
• Tom Negovan – New York City bureau correspondent (formerly of WGN-TV and KYW-TV)
• Brooke Shafer – Miami correspondent (formerly of WFOR-TV)
• Robert Sherman – foreign correspondent (formerly of Fox News)
• Nick Smith – Midwest correspondent of Morning in America (formerly of WTTG, and WTVD)
• Leland Vittert – national correspondent/weeknight anchor of On Balance with Leland Vittert{{Cite web|title=Former Fox News anchor Leland Vittert joins NewsNation - Robert Feder|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/05/05/former-fox-news-anchor-leland-vittert-joins-newsnation/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505210154/https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/05/05/former-fox-news-anchor-leland-vittert-joins-newsnation/|url-status=live}} (formerly of Fox News)
• Natasha Zouves – weekend anchor/correspondent (formerly of KGO-TV)

• Felicia Bolton
• Mitch Carr
• Elizabeth Chmurak
• Joe Donlon (now at WBBM-TV){{Cite web |title=CBS 2 hires Joe Donlon as top news anchor - Robert Feder |url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/04/06/cbs-2-hires-joe-donlon-top-news-anchor/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=www.robertfeder.com |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407184218/https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/04/06/cbs-2-hires-joe-donlon-top-news-anchor/ |url-status=live }}
• Janel Forte
• Paul Gerke
• Gerard Jebaily (later at WBBM-TV)
• Ashley Ketz
• Rob Nelson (now at Newsy){{Cite web|last=Battaglio|first=Stephen|date=2021-08-09|title=Anchor Rob Nelson exits struggling cable channel NewsNation|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-08-09/anchor-rob-nelson-exits-struggling-cable-channel-newsnation|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812213532/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-08-09/anchor-rob-nelson-exits-struggling-cable-channel-newsnation}}
• Albert Ramon (now at WBBM-TV){{Cite web|title=Robservations: Amy Freeze joins Fox Weather; Albert Ramon quits NewsNation; Bozo gets new owner - Robert Feder|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/10/07/robservations-amy-freeze-joins-fox-weather-albert-ramon-quits-newsnation-bozo-gets-new-owner/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=www.robertfeder.com|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007212859/https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/10/07/robservations-amy-freeze-joins-fox-weather-albert-ramon-quits-newsnation-bozo-gets-new-owner/|url-status=live}}
• Dean Reynolds{{Cite web|last=Feder|first=Robert|date=February 15, 2021|title=Robservations: Time's up for Dean Reynolds as 'NewsNation' correspondent - Robert Feder|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/02/15/robservations-times-dean-reynolds-newsnation-correspondent/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215165116/https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/02/15/robservations-times-dean-reynolds-newsnation-correspondent/|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.robertfeder.com}}
• Rudabeh Shahbazi
• Michael Shure
• Ji Suk Yi

{{reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{U.S. evening news programs}}

{{NewsNation}}

{{NXST TV}}

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Category:2020s American television news shows

Category:2020 American television series debuts

Category:Nexstar Media Group

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:WGN America original programming