Former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila dies at 69
Longtime ABC News correspondent Jim Avila has died at the age of 69 after a “long illness,” according to ABC News Live anchor Diane Macedo.
Jim Avila, a former ABC News senior correspondent and television journalist, has died. He was 69 years old.
Avila, who also appeared as a correspondent on the ABC series “20/20,” passed away after a “long illness,” ABC News Live anchor Diane Macedo announced on Thursday, Nov. 13. Further details about Avila’s condition were not released.
“Jim was an L.A.-based correspondent for nearly 20 years, specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer research,” Macedo said. “He also worked at the White House, reporting the news that the United States and Cuba had resumed diplomatic relations. This article earned him the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents’ Association.”
USA TODAY has reached out to ABC for comment.
Macedo also noted that Avila had previously faced health issues, including a kidney transplant.
ABC News President Armin Karamedovic paid tribute to Avila’s work as a journalist in a statement Thursday.
“My heart goes out to his family, including his three children Jamie, Jenny and Evan,” Karamemedovic said. “And we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to the search for truth.”
After Avila’s tenure at ABC News ends in 2021, the news personality joined the network’s San Diego affiliate, KGTV, as a senior investigative reporter.
A memorial service for Avila will be announced by his family, Karamedovic said in an internal memo obtained by USA TODAY.
Jim Avila pioneers television news with serious crime and political coverage
While at ABC News, Avila covered the White House from 2012 to 2016, shining a light on the heart of American politics.
In addition to his award-winning political reporting, Avila served as the television network’s senior law and justice correspondent. During his 50-year broadcast career, the television journalist has covered landmark trials of Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, pop star Michael Jackson, NFL alumnus O.J. Simpson, and more.
In addition, Avila has reported extensively on immigration, traveling to the southern border multiple times to cover the experiences of immigrants.
Prior to working at ABC, Avila worked at NBC News, where he served as national correspondent for the network’s “NBC Nightly News” program since January 2000.
Avila covered a wide range of domestic issues, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2002 D.C. sniper shooting. The reporter also went undercover at NBC’s Baghdad Hotel compound in Iraq during and after a terrorist bombing.
Avila received many flowers for his efforts as a journalist. He won a National Emmy Award for his coverage of the 1997 Red River flood in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and another Emmy Award for his coverage of undocumented workers during the 2008 Southern California wildfires.
The news personality is a five-time winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and also won the prestigious Cine Golden Eagle Award for his coverage of a Los Angeles immigrant couple who collected reusable cans to support their son’s college education.
This story has been updated to add new information.
