Jonathan Gonzalez’s Path From Bakersfield to Anchoring in His Hometown
Jonathan Gonzalez’s broadcasting career has taken him from a small Central Valley newsroom to Denver’s biggest political stories and back to Los Angeles—the city where he grew up—where he now co-anchors weekend newscasts for the station he once watched growing up.
From Burbank to College of the Canyons
Jonathan Gonzalez was born and raised in Burbank, California, the son of Costa Rican immigrants, and has spoken proudly about his Latino heritage throughout his career. He graduated from Burbank High School before beginning his journalism education at College of the Canyons, where he reported and anchored for the school’s Cougar News and was named Journalist of the Year in 2011 by the college’s Media Entertainment Arts Department.
He went on to California State University, Northridge, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2013. Even before graduating, his student work was already earning industry recognition — he won his first regional Edward R. Murrow Award and RTNA Golden Mike Award for work with the university’s radio station, KCSN-FM.
Jonathan Gonzalez Parents
Jonathan was born and raised in Burbank, California. He is a proud Costa Rican-American. He grew up in a supportive, multicultural household. His parents are Jorge Gonzalez and Teresa Gonzalez. They immigrated to the United States from Costa Rica. Jonathan heavily credits them for laying the foundation for his professional success. He was raised in a close-knit family environment. He grew up alongside one younger brother named Esteban. Gonzalez maintains a very tight-knit relationship with his immediate family members.
Cutting His Teeth in Bakersfield
Gonzalez’s first professional job was as a reporter for KBAK/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield, California, where his reporting on immigration and California’s drought earned him a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, two regional Emmy Awards, and two RTNA Golden Mike Awards — a striking amount of recognition for an entry-level television market. Several of his Bakersfield stories were picked up nationally, an early sign of the broader reach his reporting would continue to have.
Covering a Presidential Primary in Denver
Gonzalez moved on to Denver, Colorado, joining NBC affiliate KUSA (9News) as a reporter and anchor. His time there included coverage of the 2016 Presidential Primary in Colorado — a story with obvious national stakes — as well as more character-driven local reporting, including a story about two Highlands Ranch families bonded by their experiences with breast cancer, and a feature on a Denver coffee shop that helps rehabilitate people experiencing homelessness by providing housing and jobs.
Returning Home to NBC4 Los Angeles
Gonzalez eventually returned to his native Los Angeles, joining KNBC (NBC4 Los Angeles), where he currently co-anchors the station’s weekend evening newscasts at 5, 6, and 11 p.m., and works as a general assignment reporter on weekdays across the 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. newscasts. He was inducted into College of the Canyons’ Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of his career, and continued adding to an award collection that now spans multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Emmys, and Golden Mike Awards across his time in Bakersfield, Denver, and Los Angeles. Notably, he also covered President Obama’s first visit to Fresno, California, reporting on the impact of the drought on the region — a story that echoed the environmental reporting that first defined his Bakersfield career years earlier.
Personal Life
Gonzalez is married to his wife, Maricela Lopez. The couple began dating during his early college years. They celebrated 14 years together in early 2025. They share a deeply loving and stable relationship. Together, they have two children. Their youngest child is a daughter named Aidy Luna Gonzalez. She was born in January 2022 and turned four years old in January 2026. The family resides together in Los Angeles. Jonathan enjoys playing the guitar and practicing photography during his free time.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jonathan Gonzalez |
| Occupation | Co-anchor, NBC4 Los Angeles weekend evening newscasts; general assignment reporter |
| Age | Not publicly confirmed; likely mid-to-late 30s as of 2026, based on his 2013 college graduation |
| Hometown | Burbank, California |
| Heritage | Costa Rican-American |
| Education | College of the Canyons; B.A. Broadcast Journalism, California State University, Northridge (2013) |
| Career path | KBAK/KBFX-TV, Bakersfield → KUSA (9News), Denver → KNBC, Los Angeles |
| Major awards | Multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Emmy Awards, and RTNA Golden Mike Awards |
| Recognition | College of the Canyons Alumni Hall of Fame inductee |
| Family | Married, with two children |
FAQ
What does Jonathan Gonzalez do at NBC4? He co-anchors the station’s weekend evening newscasts at 5, 6, and 11 p.m., and reports weekdays for the 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. newscasts.
How old is Jonathan Gonzalez? His exact birth date hasn’t been made public, but based on his 2013 college graduation and subsequent career timeline, he’s most likely in his mid-to-late 30s as of 2026.
Where did Jonathan Gonzalez work before NBC4? He worked as a reporter and anchor for NBC affiliate KUSA (9News) in Denver, Colorado, and began his career at KBAK/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield, California.
Is Jonathan Gonzalez married? Yes. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two children.
What awards has Jonathan Gonzalez won? He’s received multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Emmy Awards, and RTNA Golden Mike Awards across his career in Bakersfield, Denver, and Los Angeles, and was inducted into College of the Canyons’ Alumni Hall of Fame.
A Local Story, Told by a Local
Jonathan Gonzalez’s career has carried him through three very different television markets, but his return to Los Angeles gives his current run at NBC4 a distinct throughline: he’s now anchoring the news in the same city — and, in some ways, the same station’s coverage area — he grew up watching as a kid in Burbank. That full-circle path, backed by a career’s worth of investigative and community-focused awards, has made him one of the more quietly accomplished figures on NBC4’s roster.
