Breaking News: Former ABC News, 20/20 correspondent dead at 69
Jim Avila, a former senior correspondent with ABC News, has died at the age of 69 after a “long illness,” the network announced Thursday morning.
“ABC News Live” anchor Diane Maced delivered a tribute to Avila regarding his work and journalistic achievements during his career.
“Jim was an L.A.-based correspondent specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer investigations for nearly two decades,” Macedo said. “He also worked in the White House and broke the news that the U.S. and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations. That story earned him the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association.”
Avila was a correspondent for the ABC program “20/20” and previously reported on the White House from 2012 to 2016 while President Barack Obama was in office.
Avila left ABC News in 2021 and became a senior investigative reporter with ABC affiliate KGTV in San Diego.
ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic said that, “Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague,” according to an internal email on Avila’s passing.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth,” Karamehmedovic said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, NBC News correspondent Josh Mankiewicz, who is Avila’s friend, said Avila died from complications after a fall.
Prior to joining ABC in 2004 Avila also worked with NBC News, where he covered the O.J. Simpson murder case for KNBC helping the station win several awards for their coverage.
Avila’s other honors include being named reporter of the year in 1999 by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and being inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame in 2019.
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