Julia O’Keefe is a journalist and television news anchor from western Massachusetts. She currently co-anchors the weekday morning newscast at WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate serving the Springfield area.
Julia built her career covering the community she grew up in, and she now wakes up viewers across the region every weekday morning.
Who is Julia O’Keefe?
Julia O’Keefe is a multimedia journalist known for her work at WWLP-22News in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
She joined the station in June 2024 and quickly moved from reporting to anchoring. Her rise came fast, and it reflected years of preparation before she ever sat behind a news desk.
She is best known as the co-anchor of the 22News weekday morning show alongside Kaelee Collins. The pair also host a podcast-style companion show called “Off the Desk” on the 22News Plus app.
That show lets viewers see a more casual side of the anchors beyond the scripted newscast. WWLP-22News is operated by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest local broadcasting companies in the country.
Working within that network gives Julia access to resources used across hundreds of stations nationwide. It also connects her local reporting to a much larger media operation.
Julia is a Wilbraham, Massachusetts native. Her local roots shape much of her reporting style. She often returns to community events she attended as a child, now covering them as a journalist instead of a spectator.
Early Life of Julia O’Keefe
Julia O’Keefe grew up in Wilbraham, a small town in western Massachusetts. She has described herself as a western Massachusetts native throughout her career coverage. Local pride shows up often in her on-air work.
She attended community events as a child that she would later cover professionally. The Big E and the Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Parade were both childhood favorites. Years later, she reported on those same events for 22News.
That connection to home has become central to her on-air identity. Viewers often see her covering the same fairs and parades she once attended as a kid.
Julia’s exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed. Because of this, her current age cannot be confirmed with certainty.
Julia O’Keefe Education
Julia O’Keefe graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and English. She concentrated her studies in journalism. Her time at Villanova helped shape the foundation of her broadcasting career.
While in school, she wrote for the student-run newspaper, The Villanovan. She also worked with AKSM Media as a Senior Election Correspondent. Both roles gave her early, hands-on experience in reporting.
Julia also interned abroad during her studies. She joined the research team at Newstalk Radio’s The Hard Shoulder Show in Dublin, Ireland.
That international experience broadened her view of journalism. It tested her research skills outside a familiar environment, and it confirmed her interest in broadcast news as a career.
Julia O’Keefe Career
Julia’s path to the anchor desk moved quickly once she started at WWLP-22News.
Joining WWLP-22News
Julia O’Keefe joined the 22News team as a multimedia journalist in June 2024. In that role, she reported, shot, and edited her own stories in the field. She covered local elections, parades, and community milestones across western Massachusetts.
During the 2024 election cycle, she covered Massachusetts ballot questions in detail. She spoke with voters and tracked results as they came in through the night. That coverage tested her skills under pressure early in her career.
Her field reporting soon led to fill-in opportunities on the anchor desk.
Becoming Morning Anchor
In early 2025, longtime 22News anchor Rich Tettemer announced his retirement after 37 years at the station. Station leaders chose Julia to take over his role on the morning desk. She had already been filling in during his and co-anchor Taylor Knight’s absences.
Julia officially became full-time weekday morning anchor on June 9, 2025. She joined Kaelee Collins to form a new morning anchor team.
Together, they took over a broadcast tradition that dated back decades at the station. This was a major milestone for a journalist still early in her career.
Off the Desk Podcast
Julia and Kaelee also launched “Off the Desk” the same week they began anchoring together. The show airs in a non-scripted, podcast-style format on the 22News Plus app. It gives the anchors room to discuss topics outside the structure of a traditional newscast.
Episodes release every weekday morning. The format has become a companion piece to the regular broadcast, giving viewers another way to connect with the morning team.
Notable Coverage
Julia has anchored live coverage of several major regional events. She co-hosted the 73rd Annual Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Parade alongside fellow 22News personality Patrick Berry. During that broadcast, she interviewed parade marshals, the Holyoke mayor, and a sitting congressman.
She has also served as an emcee for community gatherings. Julia helped host the 2025 Super 60 celebration at the MassMutual Center alongside co-anchor Kaelee Collins.
The event recognized top-performing regional businesses in front of a large local audience. These appearances have expanded her visibility well beyond the morning newscast.
Julia O’Keefe Net Worth
Julia O’Keefe’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. As a local television journalist, her primary income likely comes from her anchor salary at WWLP-22News. Additional income may come from hosting community events and emceeing local programs.
She has served as an emcee for regional events such as the Springfield Super 60 celebration. Appearances like these are common secondary income sources for local broadcast journalists. However, no verified figures are available to confirm specific earnings.
Her net worth would likely grow alongside her career as she takes on larger market opportunities. For now, that figure remains private.
Julia O’Keefe Social Media
Julia O’Keefe is active on Instagram under the handle @juliaoknews. Her bio there highlights her role at 22News and her Villanova education. She regularly posts updates from her reporting and community appearances.
She also maintains a professional presence on LinkedIn, where she shares highlights from her coverage. This includes election night recaps and community event reels.
Her social platforms give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her work. Most of her content centers on her job rather than her personal life.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Julia O’Keefe’s net worth?
Julia O’Keefe’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed.
How old is Julia O’Keefe?
Julia O’Keefe’s exact birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
Where was Julia O’Keefe born?
Julia O’Keefe is a Wilbraham, Massachusetts native.
What is Julia O’Keefe famous for?
She is famous as the weekday morning anchor at WWLP-22News.
Where did Julia O’Keefe go to college?
She graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Communications and English.
When did Julia O’Keefe join WWLP-22News?
She joined the station as a multimedia journalist in June 2024.
Who does Julia O’Keefe co-anchor with?
She co-anchors alongside Kaelee Collins on the 22News morning show.
What is “Off the Desk”?
It is a podcast-style companion show Julia hosts with Kaelee Collins on the 22News Plus app.
The Bottom Line
Julia O’Keefe has built a fast-rising career in local broadcast journalism. From her start as a multimedia journalist to her current role as morning anchor at WWLP-22News, she has stayed rooted in the western Massachusetts community that raised her.
Her work on both the newscast and “Off the Desk” continues to grow her presence in the region.
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